APNewsBreak: Murkowski meeting Libertarian candidate amid urging to stay in US Senate race

APNewsBreak: AK senator meets Libertarian nominee

JUNEAU, Alaska — Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate David Haase said he’s meeting Tuesday with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as the Republican Murkowski is being urged by supporters to find a way to stay in the race despite her loss in the primary last month.

Murkowski conceded the GOP nomination to Joe Miller last week, meaning that to be re-elected in November she’d have to run as a write-in candidate or on a third-party ticket. Haase could withdraw his candidacy, leaving an opening on the Libertarian ticket that could be filled by Murkowski.

Haase told The Associated Press of the Tuesday morning meeting at an undisclosed location with Murkowski, but Murkowski spokesman Steve Wackowski couldn’t confirm that. Haase said he wouldn’t make any decision about his political options without sleeping on it.

At this point, the odds of her appearing on the Libertarian ticket appear to be long. Party leaders had earlier voted against putting her on the ballot though Chairman Scott Kohlhaas said the party has tried to stay open in continuing a dialogue.

Kohlhaas said there have been talks with unidentified Murkowski backers about a Libertarian run.

“To their credit, they have reached out,” he said.

He described the talks about philosophy, platform and issues as fruitful and constructive, but described her candidacy as a Libertarian as seemingly impossible.

Wackowski said no one with Murkowski’s campaign core had met with the Libertarians.