McConnell plays hardball with Murkowski: Would lose GOP leadership assignments if she signs on with Libertarians or write-in

BREAKING NEWS...

From Eric Dondero:

Republican primary winner Joe Miller will begin to receive financial help from the NRSC for his general election run for US Senate in Alaska. Meanwhile, the Republican leadership in the Senate is threatening to strip losing candidate Lisa Murkowski of her committee assisgnments and leadership positions if she goes the third party route, or chooses the write-in option against Miller.

From Roll Call late last night:

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will likely be forced out of her party leadership position should she decide to launch a write-in or third-party candidacy, a Senate Republican said Wednesday.

Murkowski, who conceded the GOP primary last month to Fairbanks lawyer Joe Miller, could announce as soon as Thursday whether she will continue her campaign for re-election as a write-in candidate. She has also held talks with the state’s Libertarian Party leaders about running under their flag.

Although Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and other GOP leaders have not yet formally discussed what to do if Murkowski does run, the Senate Republican said there is likely no scenario in which she would be allowed to remain Republican Conference vice chairwoman.