Report: $825,000 Remains From Joe Miller's Senate Run

It's unclear from the documents whether the money remains solely from campaign donations or whether it also includes donations to Miller's legal fund.

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By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Feb 2, 2011 at 5:16 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Feb 3, 2011 at 11:28 PM AKDT

FAIRBANKS - Republican candidate Joe Miller ended his U.S. Senate campaign with $825,000 in funds remaining after expenses, according to paperwork filed Monday with the Federal Elections Commission.

The report shows about $166,000 in expenses from Nov. 23 to Dec. 31.

It's unclear from the documents whether the money remains solely from campaign donations or whether it also includes donations to Miller's legal fund. Miller fought a nearly two-month court challenge to the election results, soliciting money from supporters to help fund the effort.

Miller halted his legal fight over the Senate seat on Dec. 31, a day after the state certified Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski as the winner. He had argued that the "rule of law" wasn't being properly applied to all write-in votes for Murkowski and that the procedure for tallying write in votes was ambiguous.

The remaining campaign funds may be used for a future run at federal office, be donated to charity, or be converted into a political-action committee if Miller decided to establish one. The money cannot be used to run for state office in Alaska, since state fundraising rules differ from federal ones. The money also can't be used by a candidate for personal expenses.

In a court affidavit on Dec. 27, Miller said he would probably pursue political office again.

"I have run for office at both the state and federal level, in both primary and general elections, and am likely to do so in the future," Miller said.

Neither Miller nor his campaign spokesman could be immediately reached on Tuesday afternoon to discuss his plans for the funds.

Murkowski ended the period with about $321,000 on hand, according to her FEC report.

Contact staff writer Jeff Richardson at 459-7518.

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