John Fund: Murkowski's own internal poll shows Miller closing the gap (Updated)

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The Wall Street Journal's John Fund reports that Lisa Murkowski's own internal polling shows Joe Miller is closing the gap. This confirms the finds of the RT Nielson poll which revels has Sen. Murkowski's lead has shrunk to 47% to 35%. Just a month ago, an independent survey by Anchorage-based Ivan Moore Research showed Murkowski leading Miller by 62 percent to 30 percent. Not only has much of Murkowski's lead evaporated, but she's now "underwater," below the 50 percent level of support where an incumbent can be considered safe:

Ms. Murkowski has outspent her rival by almost 20 to 1, but she has yet to demonstrate a secure grip on a seat that she was appointed to by her father Frank when he was governor in 2002. In 2004, Ms. Murkowski won only 58% against an underfunded challenger in the GOP primary and almost lost to a Democrat that fall.

Ms. Murkowski insists she has since accumulated political clout that Alaskans would be foolish to throw away. She has carved a middle-of-the-road path and has continued the tradition of lobbying for pork-barrel projects for her home state, a stance raising the hackles of many conservatives. In a posting on Facebook, Sarah Palin accused Senator Murkowski of becoming "part of the big government problem in Washington."

Fund says Miller will be able to tap into Gov. Palin's network of grass-roots supporters in Alaska in his efforts to increase turnout. Midterm primary elections have traditionally had low voter turnout.

Updates...

Erick Erickson agrees. Sure, Murkowski is the heavy favorite, but don't count Joe Miller out just yet. It's not like there haven't been major political upsets in Alaska politics before.

John Gizzi disagrees:

"Miller is impressive but this doesn’t look like his race or year."

If not this year, then perhaps 2014 in a challenge to Democrat Mark Begich, as was pointed out in the comments.

- JP