*In today’s GOP primary, it’s a hot battle between two of Alaska’s political lineages: the establishment Stevenites and the startup Palinites. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, a protégé of the late Ted Stevens with a big war chest, nearly $450,000 of it raised in the Washington, DC area, is being challenged from the right by Tea Party pick and friend of Todd Palin Joe Miller. Sarah Palin recorded a robo-call for Miller and made a last-minute fundraising appeal to his supporters.

A quick look at Murkowski’s Party Time’s records and you’ll see Stevens’ influence. Her most recent fundraiser on file was hosted by the former senator’s first chief of staff,  lobbyist Ron Birch, who called him “the single-most honest human being I’ve ever known.” He and four other Birch, Horton et al lobbyists were listed as hosts of the luncheon. The Anchorage and Washington-based outfit advocates for such diverse Alaska interests as the Prince William Sound Science Center, Enstar Natural Gas and the Alaska Professional Hunters Association.

Another Murkowski D.C. fundraiser earlier this year was hosted by Target PAC. The company has caught flack recently for giving $150,000 to a conservative political group which donated to an Minnesota candidate opposing gay marriage. The company’s PAC and executives have contributed $12,400 to Murkowski for this election, including a maximum personal contribution from its CEO, president and chairman of the board Gregg Steinhafel, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

*In Arizona, Ben Quayle (Dan’s son), got himself involved in a local scandal, so he is not the clear favorite he once was when he planned this D.C. fundraiser in May. Among the hosts for the GOP-star studded event were Bill Kristol (Dan’s former chief of staff) and Fred Malek, chairman of the American Action Network, a new independent expenditure group that aims to spend $25 million this election helping candidates on the right.

Quayle has taken in two-thirds of his about $1.3 million in donations from out-of-state, according to CRP. Businessman Steve Moak, his most serious challenger, has raised slightly less, but 90 percent has come from Arizona donors. The winner will have the advantage in this GOP-leaning district against attorney Jon Hulburd.

*Down in southern Florida, also Republican territory, GOP state Rep. David Rivera will have to get over rumors of past domestic violence to beat Paul Crespo, a conservative media personality, and lawyer Marili Cancio in the primary. According to Party Time invitations, he was feted by what looked like the entire GOP firmament, including House Minority Leader John Boehner, Ohio, and Minority Whip Eric Cantor, Va., back in April and then by National Republican Campaign Committee chairman Pete Sessions, R-Texas, last month.

*If Rivera wins, he will likely battle Joe Garcia, who lost the seat in 2008 to Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., who is running in a neighboring district. Garcia was part of a Democratic Congressional Committee fundraiser for candidates in its “Red to Blue” program, aimed at turning GOP districts to Democrats. Garcia was thrown a party at the home of big-time Democratic lobbyist and frequent party host Robert Raben. At $1.6 million, Garcia has out-raised Rivera’s $1.3 million thus far, according to CRP.

Among several breakfast options this morning for Washington campaign donors is one for Alaska’s newest senator, Mark Begich. The sponsor is CH2M Hill PAC, the PAC for the global services and energy company that bought VECO, that was at the center of the scandal engulfing Begich’s predecessor in the job, Sen. Ted Stevens.

CH2M Hill’s PAC did not give Begich any contributions for his race against Stevens, however, company executives did give him at least $3,850. Among the issues CH2M Hill is lobbying on, according to its lobbying disclosure form for the last quarter of 2008 (the most recent available) is oil and gas pipeline development, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and access to federal lands for drilling.

The guilty verdict in the trial of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) had barely been delivered this afternoon when a few GOP senatorial heavyweights started using words like “disgrace,” and “consequences.” It was a far cry from four months ago, just before he was indicted, when a long list of GOP senators were listed on an invitation for a luncheon in his honor.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was on that list. Today, instead of toasting Stevens, he had this to say:

“This is a sad but serious day. Sen. Stevens was found guilty by a jury of his peers, and now must face the consequences of those actions. As a result of his conviction, Sen. Stevens will be held accountable so the public trust can be restored.”

So was Sen. John Ensign (R-NV). Today Ensign said:

“This is a sad day for the United States Senate. Ted Stevens served his constituents for over 40 years and I am disappointed to see his career end in disgrace.”

Only fellow Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, who also was listed on the June invitation, stood by her man:

“Ted has asked for Alaskans and his Senate colleagues to stand with him as he pursues his legal rights. He stood with Alaskans for 40 years, and I plan to continue to stand with him.”

Does that mean she would still party for him?

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