Republicans likely to win in Oklahoma, but Obama might surpass Kerry’s support in 2004.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republicans appear in firm control ahead of Tuesday’s historic presidential election in Oklahoma, even though Democrats hold an advantage in voter registration.
The latest polls still show GOP standard bearer John McCain with about a 2-1 lead over Democrat Barack Obama in Oklahoma, which hasn’t voted Democratic in a presidential race since 1964. Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe had a strong lead in the polls over Democrat Andrew Rice.
Meanwhile the five members of the U.S. House from Oklahoma — four of them Republicans — seemed to be safe bets for re-election.
Early voting at county election boards ebbed Monday on the eve of the election, said state Election Board Secretary Mike Clingman.
“It slowed down quite a bit,” with waiting times less than an hour in Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties, Clingman said.
But he said a record early vote is still assured after election boards in the state’s two largest cities processed more than 500 voters an hour and heavy voting was reported in other counties.
“Early voting has shown there is a lot of enthusiasm among supporters, perhaps of both camps,” Clingman said. “That doesn’t always translate to a record turnout, but a record wouldn’t surprise me.”
Oklahoma set a record with a turnout of 1.46 million in the presidential election in 2004.
No one is suggesting Obama has a chance to win in Oklahoma, but state Democratic Chairman Ivan Holmes said he thinks the energy of Obama’s young supporters should carry him past John Kerry’s 35 percent showing four years ago.
Holmes addressed whether race will be an issue.
“I think it is to some point, especially among older voters,” Holmes said.
“I don’t feel it is as much race as it is him (Obama) being so liberal and not in touch with what Oklahomans believe in,” said Gary Jones, state Republican chairman.
Oklahoma differs from many other states in that Republicans gained 2,000 registered voters before the election. Democrats still hold an edge over the GOP with about 1.1 million registered voters, compared to about 860,000 Republicans and 245,000 independents.
Rice, a 35-year-old state senator, has been outspent 2-1 by Inhofe, who is seeking a third full term in office.
Polls showed Rice doing well in Tulsa and Oklahoma County, but lagging behind in rural areas, where he is not as well known. Rice has predicted he will win Tulsa County, which Inhofe represented in the House before being elected to the Senate in 1994.
Rice took part in a get-out-the-vote rally Monday night at a union hall in Oklahoma City, while Inhofe campaigned primary in eastern Oklahoma, including stops in Durant and Henryetta.
Republican U.S. Reps. John Sullivan of the 1st Congressional District, Frank Lucas of the 3rd District, Tom Cole of the 4th District and Mary Fallin of the 5th District all were heavy favorites to defeat underfinanced opponents, as was Democrat Dan Boren of the 2nd District.
Businesswoman Georgianna Oliver, a Democrat, spent over $500,000 in her race against Sullivan, including more than $400,000 she loaned her campaign.
Republicans were shooting to take over the state Senate for the first time in history.
Key races were in Tulsa, where incumbent Democrat Nancy Riley was opposed by Republican Dan Newberry, and in Stillwater, where Republican Jim Halligan faced Robert Murphy, a former judge. Halligan is the former president of Oklahoma State University.
Democrats were making a strong late effort to unseat Sen. Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. Reynolds was opposed by Democrat David Boren, no relation to the former senator and governor who is now president of the University of Oklahoma.
The Senate is tied with 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans, the only tied legislative body in the country.
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