Governor Frank Murkowski of Alaska, the second most unpopular governor in the union, is playing the humility card.

Murkowski’s campaign ran a full-page ad in yesterday’s Anchorage Daily News and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner that starts, “I agree. I admit it. I'm a long, long way from perfect.”  Further down, Murkowski states, “Maybe I need a personality transplant.”  An advisor to the governor’s campaign said the ad was meant to demonstrate that Murkowski is listening to voters.

Just in case that whole personality transplant thing doesn’t happen in time, the governor seems to have decided that it can’t hurt him with voters to be seen supporting the troops.  Although his office is declining to comment, Alaskan television station KIMO broke the news of a secret visit by Murkowski to Iraq and Afghanistan to meet with Alaskan soldiers.  The anonymous sources who informed the station of the trip also said it was organized by the Department of Defense. A DOD spokesperson said she had no information on the alleged trip.

Alaskans won’t vote for stubborn Frank Murkowski, incumbent governor.  But who wouldn’t vote for humble Frank Murkowski, International Governor of Mystery?  It’s worth a shot, in any case.