Lisa murkowski

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - As Sen. Lisa Murkowski watched the shocking election returns come into her election headquarters on primary night, she became painfully aware of two powerful forces in American politics in 2010: anti-government rage and Sarah Palin.

WASHINGTON - A Republican civil war is raging, with righter-than-thou conservatives dominating ever more primaries in a fight for the party's soul.

WASHINGTON - Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski fought to save her job Wednesday, locked in a stunningly tight Republican primary race against a political novice backed by Sarah Palin and tea party activists.