Murkowski remains in Alaska, misses Stevens's funeral and GOP caucus meeting

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is not in Washington this week, having stayed in Alaska to concentrate on her write-in campaign.

She missed former Sen. Ted Stevens's (R-Alaska) burial at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday and the Republican Caucus's weekly meeting Wednesday.

Murkowski said Stevens's widow, Catherine Stevens, urged her to stay in Alaska and focus on her write-in bid, according to the Associated Press.

Murkowski considered Stevens a mentor and has touted her ties to him while on the campaign trail.

On Tuesday the Senate passed legislation sponsored by Murkowski and Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) that will name a mountain and part of an ice field in Denali National Park and Preserve for Stevens.

The senator faces an uphill battle to keep her seat after losing the August Republican primary to Tea Party-backed candidate Joe Miller. She opted to mount a write-in campaign, which resulted in her losing her spot in the Republican leadership.

Stevens had recorded a campaign ad for her, but she chose not to air it in the final days leading up to the primary because of Stevens's death in a plane crash. There are reports she might use it in the general election campaign.

— Emily Goodin contributed to this post