Rule: Since 1982, U.S. Senate incumbents have enjoyed re-election rates of between 75 percent and 96 percent during every two-year every election cycle, the calculates. Murkowski exception: Not only did she lose re-election, but she never even fought for a minute in the general election, losing in her own party’s primary — a rare feat of defeat. Since 1982, U.S. Senate incumbents have enjoyed re-election rates of between 75 percent and 96 percent during every two-year every election cycle, the Center for Responsive Politics Not only did she lose re-election, but she never even fought for a minute in the general election, losing in her own party’s primary — a rare feat of defeat.

Rule: Incumbents often raise 10 times (or more) the money their challengers muster, and incumbents who do are all but guaranteed victory. Murkowski exception: As of Aug. 4, the most recent dates for which campaign finance information is comprehensively available, Murkowski has raised more than 12 times what Miller has raised, spent more than 10 times what he had spent and enjoyed a greater than 22-to-1 cash-on-hand advantage, the Center’s research shows. And Miller edged her anyway.

Rule: If you’re a Senate candidate who finds himself Murkowski exception: The Tea Party Express. This group, which operates the political action committee OpenSecrets Blog . It blanketed the airwaves like snow blankets Fairbanks and deputized the former first couple of Alaska — a certain Sarah and Todd — to record robo-calls on behalf of Miller and otherwise stump for him. If you’re a Senate candidate who finds himself being moose whipped in voter polls, no amount of last-minute outside help will ultimately help you — so start preparing your concession speech.The Tea Party Express. This group, which operates the political action committee Our Country Deserves Better PAC , dumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into the race on behalf of Miller during the campaign’s final days, as recently reported . It blanketed the airwaves like snow blankets Fairbanks and deputized the former first couple of Alaska — a certain Sarah and Todd — to record robo-calls on behalf of Miller and otherwise stump for him.

Rule: Well-known candidates with massive support from big industries, labor unions or trade associations are effectively intractable. Murkowski exception: She lost despite people and political action committees associated with ExxonMobil, Target, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Patton Boggs, Southern Co., Constellation Energy, Duke Energy, Raytheon, Home Depot, the Nuclear Energy Institute, Occidental Petroleum and a host of others each giving her Well-known candidates with massive support from big industries, labor unions or trade associations are effectively intractable.She lost despite people and political action committees associated with ExxonMobil, Target, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Patton Boggs, Southern Co., Constellation Energy, Duke Energy, Raytheon, Home Depot, the Nuclear Energy Institute, Occidental Petroleum and a host of others each giving her at least $10,000 . Miller’s top contribution through Aug. 4? A cool $5,000 from SarahPAC , the political action committee of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who endorsed Miller. SarahPAC also donated $5,000 to Murkowski, negating its Miller donation. Miller, who through early August spent more than $104,000 of his own money on the race, received much of his additional (and meager) funding from Tea Party activists’ modest donations, most of which numbered in the double digits or low triple digits.

Rule: Political endorsements don’t typically matter all that much, no matter who they’re from, short of, say, the spirits of John F. Kennedy or Ronald Regan, back from a trip to the afterlife. Murkowski exception: If you’re running to represent Alaska in Washington, D.C., and you find yourself crosswise with the political phenomenon that is Palin, be prepared to instead take a long look at Russia from the comfort of your house.

Miller, who wins the race by the most narrow of margins, goes on to face Democrat Scott McAdams , the mayor of Sitka, Alaska.

Stuff like this just doesn’t happen much, folks. An “ amazing feat ,” as Miller himself described it, and few would disagree. So consider: