Political Analyst Says 2nd District Race Leans Republican
Charlie Cook, a savvy and well-respected analyst of political races, put the 2nd District congressional seat being vacated next year by Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, in the “leans Republican” category. Much of his argument is based on the assumption that former Congressman Brad Carson, who is expected to run for the Democratic nomination, would be his party’s nominee. That’s a big assumption. Carson, of Claremore, who gave up the seat to run for the Senate and was beaten by Tom Coburn, may be facing former state Sen. Kenneth Corn, who lives in the middle of the district in Poteau and just ran a statewide race. Other Democrats are sure to run.
And though Cook says Democrats had a candidate ready to go in Carson, it’s not clear whether he’s talking about national Democrats or state Democrats. Certainly, Carson and the state party did not finish 2004 on great terms since the Carson campaign was blamed for the huge amount of debt incurred by the state party. There was a lot of bitterness at the end of that Carson-Coburn race.
The Republican list of candidates will also likely be a long one — it was last year, with Boren running — and there’s a lot of time before November, 2012.
Given the increasingly conservative nature of Oklahoma, and even the Democratic stronghold in southeastern Oklahoma, it’s fair to say that the House race there could be a very close one. But, just as the Democratic nominee will have to answer for President Barack Obama and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, the Republican nominee will have to answer for the House Republican budget and its proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, in some of the poorest counties in the state.
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Comments
I agree with the first comment. I live in Leflore County as well, and do not understand the support that this county gives to Corn. He had 12 years to serve our area on a state level. In the first comment it was mentioned that Corn spent his time building a voting block of state employees. In doing so, he was able to use his political position to put unqualified people in to government jobs.
Corn had his chance on a state level and in my opinion, failed. To put him in a national position would only add one more player to the already out-of-control spending machine we have in Washington.
The Democrats can’t run scared just because the 2nd district is leaning republican. Dewey thought the whole country was leaning republican but Harry Truman proved him wrong. The Democrats must hold on to this seat but they can’t do it with Brad Carson or Kenneth Corn. Carson left with a bad taste & Corn isn’t seasoned enough & a bit too blue dog like Boren. We need a strong voice who will tell it like it is without being intimidated. Enter Senator Jim Wilson! This is a man who has that Harry Truman spirit & not afraid to face the republicans with the truth.
Kenneth Corn? Blue Dog? ROTFLMBO! I will be the first to admit that Kenneth is semi conservative on a few social issues, but a blue dog is conservative on fiscal issues and that certainly is not Kenneth Corn.
According to the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee, Kenneth ended his 12 year career at the State Capitol with a 26% (out of a possible 100%)Conservative Index Score.
Kenneth Corn just finished a statewide race but he only carried Le Flore County. No one I know can figure out why except he is the hometown boy.
He represented Le Flore County at the State Capitol for 12 years and spent all of that time building a voting block of State employees and welfare recipients.
Conservatives around here lay much of the blame for the State’s budget woes in his lap for the new programs, increased benefits and no eye to the future on how they would be paid for.