Lisa Murkowski ad features endorsement by the late Ted Stevens

In a difficult fight to retain her seat, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski has launched a new television ad featuring the endorsement of Ted Stevens, a political giant in the state who was killed in an August plane crash.

Reflecting the sensitivity of the move, Murkowski promotes his endorsement carefully in a minute-long ad, first obtained by Politico.

It begins with Stevens’ daughter, Sue Covich, speaking to the camera about her father’s relationship with Murkowski.

“My dad and Lisa made a great team for Alaska, and were always loyal to each other and the state they loved,” she says.

The two Republicans served together in the Senate for six years; Stevens also served with Murkowski’s father for two decades.

Stevens had endorsed Murkowski’s bid for a second full term, and recorded the ad for her, but Murkowski ultimately decided not to air it “out of respect,” Covich explains, “putting our family before her campaign.”

But now the Stevens family wants Alaskans to hear Stevens’ message.

“I trust Lisa and her commitment to keep fighting for us,” Stevens says. “We need Lisa and the seniority she’s earned now more than ever.”

A chyron shows that Stevens recorded his message on July 30.

Murkowski then stands with Covich, thanking the Stevens family “for the years that they shared their father with Alaska, and for their continued support today.”

Stevens died on Aug. 9 after the plane he was flying in crashed north of Dillingham, Alaska.

When Murkowski lost the Aug. 24 Republican primary to Joe Miller, a Fairbanks attorney endorsed by Sarah Palin, some analysts questioned whether that ad could have saved her campaign.

In September, Murkowski decided to continue running, asking voters to write in her name on the ballot. Most of her television ads since have been lighthearted efforts to educate voters about what to do to ensure their vote for her counts – both filling in an oval and spelling her name correctly.

Polling the race has been difficult, since Murkowski’s name will not appear on the ballot. But several recent surveys have shown her just points behind Miller in a three-way contest, with Democrat Scott McAdams also within range.

mmemoli@tribune.com

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