Coburn, Inhofe Ride Popularity Wave

By Randy Krehbiel/Tulsa World ~ Approval ratings for Oklahoma's two U.S. senators are at an all-time high despite apparent confusion about the two men's policies, the latest Oklahoma Poll indicates.

Sixty-four percent of those surveyed Oct. 18-23 said they approve of the job done by senior Sen. Jim Inhofe, while 70 percent gave junior Sen. Tom Coburn a passing grade.

But slightly more respondents identified Coburn as more effective in bringing federal dollars to Oklahoma – an impression at odds with the two Republican senators' policies.

Coburn opposes federal earmarks and refuses to request them, while Inhofe actively pursues federal appropriations for highways, military installations, water projects and other programs.

"I think it shows Oklahomans are confused about the diverse roles Inhofe and Coburn play," said Bill Shapard, the president of SoonerPoll.com, the firm that conducted the survey.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20101109_16_A1_CUTLIN476261.

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