Some people -- even within the Republican Party -- criticized the move. Jim Whitaker, an ally of Murkowski's in the Alaska House, said her appointment "is nepotism and therefore contrary to the democratic principles of representative government. An action of this type undermines the public trust and is therefore of great concern," he said, according to National Journal's Almanac.

But Frank Murkowski said he wanted to appoint someone who had some legislative experience, was young enough and reelectable enough to serve multiple terms and gain seniority, and someone whose judgment he trusted.

"Above all, I felt the person I appoint to the remaining two years of my term should be someone who shared my basic philosophy, my values, but particularly one who shares on the issues of Alaska matters that are before us," he said.

Lisa Murkowski's legislative experience included two terms in the Alaska House of Representatives. Known as a moderate there, she worked with a bipartisan caucus in an effort to design a long-range fiscal plan for the state, according to the newspaper the Juneau Empire. She also successfully shepherded a 10-cent alcohol tax -- an increase of 7 cents -- into state law. Murkowski angered conservatives when she voted against a bill limiting publicly funded abortions. On the issue of abortion, however, she also has said the procedure should only be legal if the mother's life is in danger and in cases of rape and incest.

Conservatives opposed Murkowski's reelection to the state House, and redistricting pitted her against incumbent Republican Eldon Mulder. Although Mulder decided not to run, Murkowski still experienced a close contest with conservative Nancy Dahlstrom. Murkowski ended up winning by only 57 votes, the Almanac notes.

As a senator and member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee -- a committee her father chaired, Lisa Murkowski pushed for approval of oil drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which the Bush administration supports but environmentalists strongly oppose. Other senators have blocked its approval. She also has worked toward construction of an oil pipeline from the North Slope, a less contentious proposition.

She has worked in the areas of health care, education, veterans' affairs and Alaska Native issues.

Murkowski handily won her party's primary in August with 58 percent of the vote. Her closest competitors garnered 37 percent and 4 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press.

Her race against Knowles, who also supports drilling in ANWR, is expected to yield much closer results on Nov. 2.

Murkowski graduated from Georgetown University and received a law degree from Willamette College of Law. She is married to Verne Martell, an Anchorage small business owner, and has two sons.