Alaska Senate Race: Too Close to Call

Sarah Palin heading to town to help Republican Joe Miller.

ByABC News
October 28, 2010, 12:17 PM

Oct. 28, 2010 — -- Alaska Senate candidate Joe Miller, a lawyer and father of eight, looked to be Alaska's giant killer, but suddenly tonight he is on the ropes in a race too close to call.

Miller took out powerful Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the primary and has had Sarah Palin's vocal support, yet he is running neck-and-neck with Murkowski, a candidate who doesn't even have her name on the ballot.

"I am still in David and Goliath battle," Miller told ABC News. "I think any time you try and dislodge power, you are going to have a fight."

At a debate Wednesday, the Alaska Senate race became an all-out grudge match.

GOP write-in candidate Murkowski, Tea Party-backed Miller and Democrat Scott McAdams let the accusations fly one last time.

"Are you flip-flopping or what's the deal?" Miller asked Murkowski.

Murkowski challenged Miller about his stance on Social Security and ethical violations at a previous job.

"I am somewhat confused with the response earlier this year, that you were quoted saying that Social Security needs to be eliminated," Murkowski told Miller.

Miller denied that he wants to eliminate Social Security, but in previous campaign speeches he has said that Social Security violates the "mandates of the Constitution." He said spending needs to be reined in and that the powers of the federal government should be limited to those explicitly stated in the U.S. Constitution.