Doug Mataconis · · 10 comments

In case you were wondering if Lisa Murkowski is holding a grudge against Sarah Palin for backing Joe Miller in the primary last August, wonder no more:

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she would not support Sarah Palin if she decides to seek the presidency because the former governor lacks the “intellectual curiosity” for the job.

“I just do not think she has those leadership qualities, that intellectual curiosity that allows for building good and great policies,” Murkowski told Katie Couric in a “CBS Evening News” interview. “You know, she was my governor for two years, for just about two years there, and I don’t think that she enjoyed governing. I don’t think she liked to get down into the policy.”

Murkowski, who is on track to win her write-in campaign to retain her Senate seat, has said previously that Palin is not an ideal presidential contender. The two Alaska Republicans have had a long, tense relationship stemming from when Murkowski’s father, former Gov. Frank Murkowski, appointed his daughter to serve out his Senate term instead of Palin.

Murkowski didn’t do much to downplay the iciness of the relationship.

“I’m still her senator. I’m going to work hard to represent her too. We don’t really have much of a relationship,” said Murkowski.