Sen. Begich urges Miller to throw in the towel in Alaska

Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) urged Republican Joe Miller on Monday to throw in the towel and drop his lawsuit challenging the results of the state's Senate election. 

In a statement, Begich echoed the warnings of both Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and the state that a drawn-out legal battle could result in Murkowski not being sworn in immediately next month, thereby depriving the state of full representation.

He also warned that it would leave him as Alaska's lone senator battling those in the upper chamber determined to stymie earmarks, which Begich said will hurt the state. 

"As many in Washington are united against securing funding for important road and public facility projects in individual states, it’s vital that Alaska have both senators putting our unique needs first and fighting for our state," Begich said. "Without both senators, Alaska’s interests will be at risk on critical issues from energy development to job creation and reducing the national debt in a way that’s fair to Alaskans." 

Both Begich and Murkowski voted against a ban on earmarks last week. 

The Democrat said it's time for Miller "to put Alaska interests ahead of personal ambition and allow the State of Alaska to certify Lisa Murkowski as the winner." 

Miller's lawsuit claims the state applied a faulty "voter intent" standard to the counting of write-in ballots and wants thousands of ballots counted for Murkowski thrown out.

Murkowski was declared the winner last month with a lead of more than 10,000 votes, but Miller won an injunction from a federal judge preventing state elections officials from certifying her the winner.

An Alaska judge agreed last week to fast-track Miller's lawsuit. A hearing is set for Wednesday.