Sooner Survey: Treasurer's Race A Toss-up

The Sooner Survey finds that the race for state treasurer is a toss-up, with Democrat incumbent Scott Meacham and Republican Howard Barnett still not known to voters.

The survey found that 79 percent don't know enough about Meacham (left) to rate him and 85 percent don't know enough about Barnett (right) to rate him.

And, "Undecided" and Meacham lead the race right now, at 36 percent each, followed by Barnett at 28 percent.

The survey was taken September 21-22 of 500 registered voters.

Pat McFerron, director of survey research, said the survey indicates that Meacham, closely identified with Governor Brad Henry who appointed him to the post, "should be careful about (tying himself closely to Henry) doing so in an overt manner. When voters are given arguments both in favor and opposed to having a state treasurer tied closely to Governor Henry, a strong plurality (44%) prefers to have an independent treasurer."

McFerron writes that "Brad Henry is not showing coattails at this time. It is a Henry coalition, not a Democrat coalition."

McFerron concludes that this race is far from over and how undecided voters "break will depend on the television and advertising campaign activities during the last 20 days of the campaign."

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