Coburn Running Again In 2010
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), a champion of the Christian Right who had been the subject of some speculation that he might not run for a second term in 2010, has now announced that he is in fact running.
Coburn added that if re-elected, he will stick by the pledge from his 2004 campaign to not serve more than two terms. And for the record, he previously honored a term-limits pledge back in 2000, when he retired from his House seat after six years.
Coburn had been publicly undecided about whether to make the race, and wasn't actively raising money. But in all truth, he didn't need to raise money -- he's a popular conservative from a deep-Republican state, and insofar as he'll need some money he will be able to get it easily. This might have been a competitive race as an open seat, but as it is now Coburn is in all likelihood a safe bet for re-election.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
No, it would not have been a competitive state. While Oklahoma has Democratic roots at the local level, it's a red state that's only getting redder in reaction to Obama's election. All those cries of "socialism" and "reverse racist" are almost handcrafted to go right to the heart of voters in places like Oklahoma. All any Republican has to do in Oklahoma is say Obama's full name, the words "bailout" or "socialism", and "filibuster-proof Senate", and they win in a landslide. I wish it wasn't so, but it is, and it's a reminder of what we're still up against. No use being naive about it.
In that light, I'm almost glad Coburn is running again. He's a pain in the ass, but at least he's principled. He's definitely no Inhof. Who knows what freak the Republicans might manage to slip into the Senate in that state just from saying Osama Hussein Obama over and over again.
June 1, 2009 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hello_World is 100 correct. In the 2008 presidential election, Oklahoma is the only state where EVERY SINGLE COUNTY went for McCain over Obama.
June 2, 2009 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink