The state Division of not win in Sitka,” Moore said. Elections won't start “He won in District 23, which counting absentee or write-in is Downtown Anchorage, and he ballots until next week -- won in Homer.” but with 100 percent of Write-in candidates won every precincts reporting, the Anchorage district except returns offer a closer look Downtown -- but it was rural at which U.S. Senate Alaska that gave the write-in candidates won certain parts total an edge. of the state. “Write-in lead overall is 13, In the three-way race between 000, and the lead in those Republican Joe Miller, rural districts alone is 8, Democrat Scott McAdams and 000,” Moore said. “So all but write-in candidate Sen. Lisa 5,000 of that lead -- i.e., Murkowski, write-in most of it -- is because of candidates won in 26 of rural Alaska.” Alaska’s 40 state House Murkowski campaigned hard in districts. rural Alaska, but even with “There are write-ins in a lot all the added campaigning the of elections, but not to this Bush didn't see an increase magnitude,” said University in voter turnout, registering of Alaska Anchorage political the same percentage of voter science professor Carl Shepro. turnout it did in 2006. The boost comes from the fact “I personally thought all that in some precincts like along that the obstacle, or Toksook Bay, Scammon Bay and apparent obstacle, became an Stebbins, upwards of 70 urban myth that you can't win percent of voters chose to a write in -- normally it's write in their chosen not the process, it's the candidate's name. candidate that can't,” said “The lead would be a lot pollster Dave Dittman. smaller and in much more Pollsters expect Murkowski’s doubt as to whether she would name to be written on about actually end up winning, so 99 percent of the Senate rural vote was key,” Moore race’s 83,000 write-in said. ballots. “I think that she had a lot “The write-in won Bethel, of things going for her that just about everywhere in the you won't find in most write- rural areas, in Joe Miller's in campaigns, and if she does home district and Sitka -- it win that will be certainly was just statewide,” Dittman what carries her, is the fact said. that the level of support Overall, write-in candidates that she had plus the money,” took 41 percent of the vote, Shepro said. while Miller had 34 percent and McAdams had 24 percent. The Division of Elections Miller picked up support in won't begin counting write-in the Interior, where he's from, ballots until Wednesday, but and also in conservative hot analysts of Alaska’s spots, winning 11 House political map agree that districts. Murkowski has probably won re- “He did well in Mat-Su, election. predictably enough won by According to the division, nearly 20 points there,” said about 42 percent of pollster Ivan Moore. “Did registered voters turned out very well in Kenai Peninsula for this election, not as well, won by 15 points counting questioned and there, but what was absentee ballots. interesting was in Fairbanks, Officials say they currently he only won by five points have 30,500 absentee ballots there.” and 12,000 questioned ballots, McAdams picked up three House although that number is districts. expected to change in the coming days. “He won in District 3, which Contact Jackie Bartz at is downtown Juneau; he did jbartz@ktuu.com
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