Murkowski on Track to Win

Senator Lisa Murkowski won 98 percent of the write-in ballots opened in Alaska on Thursday—a rate that, if it holds up, will have her winning re-election to the Senate despite her loss to Joe Miller in the Republican primary. Miller is hoping to win by persuading a judge to throw out ballots that misspell Murkowski’s name; however, a judge is allowing misspellings like “Merkowski,” “Murkowsky,” and “Murcowski.” Miller only successfully challenged 1.44 percent of the 19,000 ballots counted on Wednesday. The counting is expected to last at least four more days.