Oklahoma U.S. Senate Race

Race of the Day

Oklahoma U.S. Senate

September 20, 2010
43 Days Until Election Day

Status: Republican Incumbent
2008 Presidential Result: Red State (South)

Outlook: Safe Republican

In a year where some hardline conservatives toss around the label "RINO" to describe Republicans they find ideologically unacceptable, Oklahoma GOP Senator Tom Coburn will probably never have to worry about being described at such. More aptly, he could be called a "GYNO" as the gynecologist/obstetrician has delivered thousand of babies, both before he was first elected to Congress in 1994, and after a self-imposed limit of three terms.

After that service, Coburn dealt with a cancer battle and in 2004 captured a hotly contested U.S. Senate seat. In the Senate, he continued his reputation as an anti-spending crusader and staunch social conservative, but also struck up a friendship with colleague Barack Obama. Considering his often rocky relationship with Washington D.C. insiders, it was not a foregone conclusion he would seek a second Senate term in 2010. Democrats held out hope that outgoing Governor Brad Henry might be a strong contender for the seat, but Coburn was persuaded to run again, which effectively guaranteed his reelection.

In the state's Democrat primary, a somewhat credible candidate was defeated in a surprise upset by a perennial candidate with the all-American sounding name of Jim Rogers. The Democrat nominee for the seat claims to be a retired educator, but has not been very forthcoming on his biography and is not actively running a campaign. He has no campaign website for example and has an empty campaign account. A posted online photo of the candidate does not have him looking very Senatorial. He even looks a little sketchy. A lot of people would be less than thrilled to have this particular Mr. Rogers as their neighbor. He might possibly make South Carolina Democrat Senate nominee Alvin Greene seem like a political rockstar by comparison.

In November, Rogers will get the votes of anybody in the state who would otherwise vote Democrat with no questions asked, and none more. Coburn will return for a second, and likely final term in the U.S. Senate.

Coburn campaign link:

http://www.coburnforsenate.com

2010 U.S. Senate races predicted thus far: 7 D, 21 R
Predicted U.S. Senate Balance of Power thus far: 47 D, 44 R