Miller says opponent's victory speech premature

[November 05, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Republican Senate hopeful Joe Miller of Alaska says incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski's "little victory speech" may have been premature.

In a taped interview aired Friday on NBC's "Today" show, Miller said he's not ready to concede defeat in the closely watch contest.

Miller, a tea party favorite endorsed by Sarah Palin, defeated Murkowski in the GOP primary. Then Murkowski launched an unlikely write-in campaign to hold onto her Senate seat.

Initial returns show write-in ballots hold an edge of more than 13,000 votes over Miller. But it isn't yet clear how many of the write-in votes are for Murkowski.

Since election night, Murkowski has sounded confident of victory. She told supporters her write-in campaign "will change the definition of American politics."

[Associated Press]

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