GOP admits 'concern' over Alaska race

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The head of the Republicans' Senate campaign denied Sunday that the party is giving up on Joe Miller in Alaska.

Host Christiane Amanpour of ABC's "This Week" told Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, "Our … political correspondent is saying that you're basically, the GOP is giving up on Joe Miller, or thinking that he's not going to win."

Cornyn replied, "We are supporting the nominee of our party, which is Mr. Miller -- but are concerned."

Cornyn said the GOP's priority is to ensure that Democrat Scott McAdams doesn't win the seat amid the feud between Miller and incumbent Republican Lisa Murkowski, who is running as a write-in.

Cornyn's Democratic counterpart, Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, said this year's midterms would not be a repeat of 1994, when the Democrats lost both houses.

"No. 1, in 1994, the Republican brand, its image was much better than it is today," he said. "In every poll, Democrats as a brand fare much better. And, secondly, in 1994, it was a surge at the end. We've known that this midterm election is going to be challenging, and so our candidates for the U.S. Senate have been ready."