Oklahoma U.S. Senate Race

Race of the Day

Oklahoma U.S. Senate

September 23, 2008
42 Days Until Election Day

Status: Republican Incumbent
2004 Presidential Result: Red State (South)

Outlook: Safe Republican

First elected to the Senate in 1994, Republican Jim Inhofe has gained a reputation as one of the most conservative members of that body and in recent years, in his role as top Republican on the Energy Committee, the pre-eminent skeptic on what he considers to be global warming fanaticism.

Because of those politically incorrect views and because of an often sharp tongue, Inhofe is reviled by many on the left and devotees of liberal blogs would love to see him defeated in 2008. However, Oklahoma is one of the most reliably Republican states on the federal level and Inhofe is well ahead of his Democrat opponent, State Senator Andrew Rice (doing some research on the polls in this state and looking at the Yahoo page and OMG, Clay Aiken is gay! No way! Shocked! Shocked!!!!, what would Senator Inhofe say?), ok, moving on....

The youthful Rice is said to be a talented politician, but is also someone who would be considered a good deal to the left of most Oklahomans, which only furthers to render his campaign as being pretty quixotic. A Rasmussen poll out today shows that Inhofe is well over 50 percent and has a 16 point lead. While Inhofe may never be truly beloved across party lines in the Sooner State, I would actually be surprised if on Election Day, he does not manage to win by at least 20 points.

Inholfe campaign link:

http://www.jiminhofe.com/

2008 U.S. Senate races predicted: 11 D, 14 R
Predicted Senate balance of power thus far: 50 D, 40 R