With five weeks to go, her campaign staff is being overhauled, with veterans of the 2004 race arriving in Alaska. Lawyers are also joining to help oversee what, if the race is close, could be a protracted and bitter vote count.

Ms. Murkowski said in an interview that the campaign is considering ideas like jingles and rubber bracelets to teach voters how to spell her name and fill in the oval beside “write-in” on the ballot.

The state elections director has said that any ballot from which voter intent can be discerned will be counted, but it is not thought that Lisa M. will suffice.

“This is what makes it so exciting, because there is no playbook,” Ms. Murkowski said. “Nobody knows how to do this with certainty.”