The Wasilla-based Conservative Patriots Group, a small collection of tea party ideologues, rescinded its endorsement of Mead Treadwell in the Republican lieutenant governor’s primary, after the group figured out Treadwell had donated money to Senator Lisa Murkowski’s campaign in March of this year. (CPG’s primary goal, it seems, is for Joe Miller to defeat Murkowski in the August primary; Treadwell’s donation was prior to Miller’s entrance into the race.)

Tea party favorite Eddie Burke had taken umbrage with CPG’s endorsement of Treadwell, pointing out he’d also donated to Democrats Matt Claman and Sheila Selkregg in municipal elections. Treadwell explained to Briefs through an intermediary that he’s known Claman’s wife since college, and worked with Claman, as well as Ernie Hall, who beat Claman in last April’s municipal election, on charitable projects as members of the Rotary Club. Selkregg was an active volunteer for the Institute of the North, where Treadwell is a senior fellow, and Selkregg worked on Christmas toys for children with Treadwell’s late wife.

As for CPG rescinding its endorsement, Treadwell released a statement saying he stands behind his contributions to Murkowski. “Helping her build her war chest deterred Democrats from entering the race,” it read. “She has worked hard for Alaska, and has won leadership positions that can help the state get its economy on a long-term footing. My contributions were disclosed under the law. I had no interest in joining a ‘slate’ of candidates until after the primary. I went into the vetting process believing that CPG was vetting me on my merits, not on my view of the merits of others.” Treadwell points out he’d contributed to Miller’s campaign for state house, but, “I will not risk a lifelong friendship with Senator Murkowski for political expediency.”

CPG didn’t endorse Burke after rescinding Treadwell’s endorsement, but Eddie scored with “An exclusive interview” with Tucker Carlson’s conservative website The Daily Caller, which is basically an endorsement of its own.

In other Republican senate primary news, former Senator Ted Stevens is stepping out this weekend to support Senator Murkowski at a young Alaskans event at Platinum Jaxx. Briefs has never been in the dance club for the shiny shirt set, but we’d sure like to see Uncle Ted shaking it on the dance floor.

The Rothenberg Political Report, a nonpartisan political analysis blog, lists Governor Sean Parnell as “safe” in his bid to be elected to the state’s top executive office. That seems to be what the campaign finance numbers just filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission say as well—Parnell raised almost $450,000 in contributions, more than Democrats Hollis French and Ethan Berkowitz combined. Additionally, a just-released Hellenthal and Associates poll of Republican voters shows Parnell beating Bill Walker and Ralph Samuels in the primary. (Senator Murkowski easily beats Joe Miller in this poll as well.)

bjk@anchoragepress.com