The tides are still turning in the country:

Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski, whose perceived missteps over the past four years have turned him into one of the most unpopular governors in state history, soundly lost his bid for re-election after finishing last in a hotly contested three-way race for the Republican nomination.

With 70 percent of precincts reporting, Sarah Palin, a former Wasilla mayor, won the GOP nod with 51 percent of the vote. Former state legislator John Binkley came in second with 30 percent. Murkowski polled just 19 percent.

Murkowski shook Palin’s hand in the middle of a crowd of her supporters, all waving signs. “Congratulations, you’ve got my support. I’ll do everything to see that you’re elected,” Murkowski told her.

Murkowski is the second lowest rated Governor in the country according to SUSA. He is just two points above the lowest, the governor of my state, Bob Taft (currently at 17%). Luckily Alaska had the chance to tell Murkowski that he sucks and send him packing. This is Taft’s final term in office, so we just get to send him packing via the system of term limits (hell – at least he is gone).