Murkowski fires back at ‘belittling’ remarks

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is firing back at “belittling” comments from Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) in the latest spat between her and Begich heading into Election Day.

{mosads}The ongoing tension stems in part from ads Begich has run tying himself to Murkowski, who is highly popular with the moderate Republican and independent voters he needs to secure reelection. Murkowski sent a cease-and-desist letter after Begich used a photo of the two of them in one ad.

When asked about that letter in a recent debate, Begich said Murkowski didn’t dispute the fact that they’d voted together more than any other bipartisan Senate pair and that she objected because she “didn’t like the photo.”

Murkowski fired back.

“That is belittling. … I think I made very clear that I had objections, serious objections, to how that ad portrayed our relationship. It was an implied endorsement, and I didn’t appreciate that. I think Begich knows where I stand in this race,” she said over the weekend. “Again, no means no.”

Begich and former Alaska Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Sullivan (R) are in a hard-fought race in the difficult-to-poll state. Sullivan has led in most polls.