U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, rides the subway on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday,  following the weekly caucus luncheons, and as the count of her write-in campaign to retain her seat drew nearer to completion. The AP has delcared Murkowski to be the winner of her tight re-election campaign over Republican Joe Miller. In winning, she became the first U.S. senator to win as a write-in since 1954. AP Story here. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

Question: Is this a setback for Tea Party movement and conservative kingmaker Sarah Palin, who backed Murkowski's opponent?