Rice Tries To Explain Lackluster Showing
By Barbara Hoberock/Capitol Bureau, Tulsa World ~ State Sen. Andrew Rice's successful but lackluster showing in the Democratic primary against a perennial candidate indicates that he has a lot of hands to shake in his quest to unseat U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, a Republican.
But the Oklahoma City resident put a positive spin on the results Wednesday, citing the low voter turnout. Rice garnered 59.65 percent of the vote Tuesday against Jim Rogers of Midwest City, a perennial candidate who didn't spend money and was not seen on the campaign trail.
"We are happy with it, grateful to win and get the nomination to represent the party," Rice said Wednesday. He also said he needs to work on his name recognition.
Oklahoma Election Board Secretary Michael Clingman said the turnout was about 18 percent, the lowest since 1952 in a presidential primary year.
"It was bad," Clingman said.
Election Board information shows that Rice lost to Rogers in 19 counties. Sixteen of the 19 have more registered Democrats than they do Republicans.
Keith Gaddie, a University of Oklahoma political science professor, said, "For a guy who is the presumptive nominee running against a gadfly opponent, it is a pretty poor showing. "They have got a lot of ground to cover. They have ground to cover with the Democratic base before they start in on the switch-over voters. There is always a chance."
Gaddie said Rice has a talented team behind him and the ability to raise money. "Right now, it is a tough row to hoe," he said. "Jim Inhofe has not started in on Rice, and we know what that campaign is going to be like. Rice is still getting introduced to a lot of the electorate. The question is, is Jim Inhofe going to introduce him or is Andrew Rice?"
Some of Rice's supporters thought the results were disappointing but still found a positive aspect. Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Ivan Holmes said more Democrats than Republicans voted in Tuesday's primary.
That is the good news, he said. "I was disappointed that Rice didn't get a higher percent of that vote," he said. "But the reason for that is Rice really has just now started to kick into his campaign." Holmes said he had thought Rogers would get about 20 percent of the vote.
Inhofe, who took all of the state's 77 counties in the Republican primary with 84 percent of the vote, said he had not met Rice but looked forward to meeting him, saying that Rice comes from a good family. "Frankly, I thought he would have done better," Inhofe said, adding that he would debate Rice.
But the Oklahoma City resident put a positive spin on the results Wednesday, citing the low voter turnout. Rice garnered 59.65 percent of the vote Tuesday against Jim Rogers of Midwest City, a perennial candidate who didn't spend money and was not seen on the campaign trail.
"We are happy with it, grateful to win and get the nomination to represent the party," Rice said Wednesday. He also said he needs to work on his name recognition.
Oklahoma Election Board Secretary Michael Clingman said the turnout was about 18 percent, the lowest since 1952 in a presidential primary year.
"It was bad," Clingman said.
Election Board information shows that Rice lost to Rogers in 19 counties. Sixteen of the 19 have more registered Democrats than they do Republicans.
Keith Gaddie, a University of Oklahoma political science professor, said, "For a guy who is the presumptive nominee running against a gadfly opponent, it is a pretty poor showing. "They have got a lot of ground to cover. They have ground to cover with the Democratic base before they start in on the switch-over voters. There is always a chance."
Gaddie said Rice has a talented team behind him and the ability to raise money. "Right now, it is a tough row to hoe," he said. "Jim Inhofe has not started in on Rice, and we know what that campaign is going to be like. Rice is still getting introduced to a lot of the electorate. The question is, is Jim Inhofe going to introduce him or is Andrew Rice?"
Some of Rice's supporters thought the results were disappointing but still found a positive aspect. Oklahoma Democratic Party Chairman Ivan Holmes said more Democrats than Republicans voted in Tuesday's primary.
That is the good news, he said. "I was disappointed that Rice didn't get a higher percent of that vote," he said. "But the reason for that is Rice really has just now started to kick into his campaign." Holmes said he had thought Rogers would get about 20 percent of the vote.
Inhofe, who took all of the state's 77 counties in the Republican primary with 84 percent of the vote, said he had not met Rice but looked forward to meeting him, saying that Rice comes from a good family. "Frankly, I thought he would have done better," Inhofe said, adding that he would debate Rice.
Labels: Andrew Rice, Jim Inhofe, Primary Election Returns
posted by Mike McCarville @ 9:43 AM
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