The Hill News

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) brushed off Republicans' plans to strip her of a top committee spot and her leadership post, saying she was focused on winning reelection.

Murkowski said she was "putting everything on the line" to raise an independent, write-in candidacy for Senate, and wasn't focused on Senate Republicans' decision to strip her of her position as ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, as well as her job as vice chairwoman of the Senate GOP Conference.

"What I'm doing is I am putting my state of Alaska before my party. In today's political world, that's practically unheard of," she said on NBC's "Today" show. "I'm putting everything on the line to do it."

Murkowski had angered ! fellow Republicans by deciding to pursue an independent bid after losing a Republican primary to Joe Miller, the conservative candidate backed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), a political nemesis of Murkowski. She announced on Friday evening to chance to pursue a run.

Republicans fear that Murkowski's participation in the general election could split the GOP vote in the race, and risk handing the Alaska Senate to Democrat Scott McAdams.

Murkowski sought to frame on Tuesday her decision to run as being responsive to Alaska voters who wanted to have an opportunity to support her in the general election.

"In fairness, 85 percent of the Alaskan electorate did not have an opportunity to participate in that," she said. "So what I'm doing is responding to their request."