There’s been a flurry of polling of the Oklahoma Governor’s race lately, showing former Representative (and CFL great) J.C. Watts beating the Democrats in the general, and at least competitive with retiring Rep. (and former Lt. Gov.) Mary Fallin in the GOP primary. Well, today, Watts made clear that he wouldn’t be running in 2010.
“I have observed with great interest and pride the progress my state is making under the bold and innovative leadership of the state legislature. Nothing would give me greater joy and satisfaction than to go work with these leaders to grow and prosper Oklahoma,” Watts said in a statement. “However, my current business and contractual obligations create hurdles that I cannot overcome at this time.”
Watts had recently made statements that left him sounding skeptical about being able to raise the funds, but this is still a bit surprising in view of solid polls. This leaves Fallin an easier path to the nomination. She isn’t unopposed, though; state Sen. Randy Brogdon is in the race, and will be the really, really conservative in the primary, as opposed to Fallin’s merely really conservative.
And there’s one last wild card… Sen. Tom Coburn, who has sounded non-commital about running for another Senate term and has occasionally been the subject of gubernatorial speculation; Coburn will reportedly announce his plans on June 1. The Dems, for their part, face a contested primary between Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and AG Drew Edmondson.
I find myself hoping that Tom Coburn seeks re-election.
We should really put up a strong challenge to this CD. Fallin was probably too tough to beat in ’06, but in ’08, this district was Obama’s best, and the only one that shifted from Gore to Obama in the entire state. This seems to be the only bright spot in what is a state that has steadily drifted away from us.
http://www.washblade.com/thela…
You’re picture should NOT be the one featured in a news article about defining marriage in DC to one woman and one man. I dont care if you’re from a conservative district, you knows this shit isnt going to pass anyway so why bother.
Seriously, I’d rather have Coburn. Boren will be a COMPLETE waste of money and will stab us in the back every chance he gets to be able to keep a seat in Oklahoma because that is what he’d have to do. Not worth it. It really isnt. Name one vote he’d help us out with in a pinch, what situation would we need him for when we’d be losing 10-15 Dems on a vote and not him? Nope, sometimes we gotta know our limits and a Dem Senator in Oklahoma is something unsustainable and not worth our money. That is really one of the few states I would say dont even bother, we shouldnt have a Dem from that state anyway so why spend our money. ID, UT if not Matheson, WY special circumstance with whats her face and I think that’s it. It’s only four states but those four are states I wouldn’t ever bother for a Senate race.
I know there are tons of Dems on the local level, yeah the state house and senate are both gone now so dont forget that. We just aren’t supposed to win in Oklahoma and if we do, it isnt worth it and that’d be proven by Boren. I dont think either him or Henry would win anyway so this all moot, heh.