Democrats Debate Rice's Primary Vote

Some of the state's most vocal Democrats are weighing in on Senator Andrew Rice's lackluster showing in Tuesday's Democratic primary for the U. S. Senate, joining coffee shop and watercooler discussion among political junkies.

News & Commentary

Rice got 59 percent of the vote against Jim Rogers, the perennial Midwest City candidate who didn't campaign and spent no money, and lost 19 counties, many of them key Democrat counties, to Rogers.

The Democrat discussion is taking place on the Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, http://www.demookie.com/.

The posting thread was opened by a forum administrator, Tim Reese, who posted The McCarville Report Online's original story pointing out how poorly Rice ran in some counties.

That post was met by this, from "mccurtaincountydemocrat" (Jane Luttrell, another forum administrator): "McCarville is...full of shit...." (Jane's no genteel Southern lady, is she? Disappointing...I've thought highly of her.) Other than that, she offered no explanation of how Rogers beat Rice in her own Democrat-dominated county.

Activist (and way-out liberal) Chris Heldenbrand added, "I thought about starting a thread entitled 'McCarville has strange, unhealthy fixation on Andrew Rice', but figured that would just encourage him. I'm not convinced the primary results mean diddly squat. Andrew knew he had an uphill battle for name recognition when he started. 'Jim Rogers' has been on the statewide ballot before, so low-information voters probably figured he was the one they had heard of. Andrew's going to have to work his ass off between now and November to beat Inhofe, but he knew that, too. By the way, McCarville quotes some Republican hack as saying Rice spent $717,000 on his primary campaign. Bullshit! Had he watched the ads, he would have seen they were directed specifically at Inhofe, not Rogers. Andrew's been conducting a general election campaign from the git-go. Just more McCarville BS, as he watches what little credibility he had as a journalist go down the crapper. Personally, I suspect he's a paid shill." (Nice try, Chris; wrong, but nice try. Credibility? Try reading what your fellow Democrats are saying. Even Ivan Holmes agrees with our assessment; he says he thought Rogers would get 20 percent. He got DOUBLE that. And Chris: We quoted no "Republican hack" about Rice's money; the figure came from his own FEC reports.)

More rational posters addressed the Rice issue head on. Wrote "TulsaTrialLawyer" after saying he could care less what appears on TMRO, "giving up 40% of the vote to a dude who did nothing but put his name on the ballot would worry me if I were the candidate. That guy got 77,000 votes. It's hard to attribute that to 'low information' voters just voting for 'a name' or Republicans registered as Democrats. I sure don't know how or why that happened, but if I am the nominee, I see 77,000 of my own people voting for a non-entity and I am shaking up my frickin' staff."

Wrote "boomersun": "...I like Rice as much as you do, but let's be honest with ourselves in saying that Rice should have done much better than he did. Rice, who has spent considerable time campaigning across the state and airing television commercials ran against a person who did not raise any money, spend any money or do any campaigning, yet Rice only received just under 60% of the vote. This is not good. Most of the national political experts have called this senate race as 'safe GOP' seat and I kind of believe it...I really like Rice, but after watching videos of him meeting cowboys at rodeos and diners, I'm beginning to think that many voters just won't be receptive to him."

In a second string of posts on the subject, "dolebludger" wrote, "Another factor may be at play here. Almost all Democrats in this state were convinced Rice was going to win the primary. And in many precincts, counties, and districts, there were few (if any) other primary races on the Democratic ballot. I fear that too many Democratic voters just stayed home and didn't vote, and this fear is born out by the fact that voter turn out was the lowest since 1952! There's a lesson to be learned here by all Democrats. Go vote, even if you think your candidate is a 'sure thing.' You don't just want your candidate to win -- you want that candidate to win big!"

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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.

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For Rice, Not A Pretty Picture

U. S. Senate candidate Andrew Rice's lackluster showing in Tuesday's primary against a no-name opponent who spent no money and didn't campaign is reflected in this map, which shows the counties the Democrat lost to perennial candidate Jim Rogers. Note that most of the counties Rice lost are in the heart of Democrat country, southeastern Oklahoma, southern and southwestern Oklahoma. He also lost two counties in western Oklahoma, the three Panhandle counties and the Democrat county of Ottawa in northeastern Oklahoma. The orange counties are those in which Rice polled less than 55 percent; the brown counties are those in which Rice underperformed his state percentage (59%). He carried the counties in gray by larger margins.

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GOP Group: Rice 'Off to a stumbling start'

Democratic nominee Andrew Rice's November challenge to U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe is off to a stumbling start following a lackluster primary performace yesterday, a spokesman for Oklahoma Victory 2008 said Wednesday in a news release.

"Rice, who has been campaigning for the Democratic nomination for months, won the Democratic primary Tuesday night with 59.65 percent of the vote," the release says. "That's a far cry from the nearly 80 percent tallied by Brad Carson in his failed U.S. Senate race in 2004."

"Andrew Rice failed to generate the kind of momentum Democrats gave Brad Carson in 2004. It must be worrisome that Rice's general election campaign is off to such a stumbling start," Oklahoma Victory Director Matt Pinnell said.

Rice spent more than $717,000 in his primary campaign, compared with Jim Rogers, who didn't even raise or spend enough to file a financial disclosure report.

Rogers spent only $1,000 in filing fees yet garnered more than 40 percent of the primary vote.

Pinnell said, "Rice criss-crossed the state campaigning and spent tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars on TV and radio advertising in an attempt to introduce himself to voters. It's clear by his performance in the primary that Oklahoma voters are not buying what Rice is selling."

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Maughan Came Close To Clear Win

Republican Brian Maughan came close to a clear primary win in today's voting for Oklahoma County commissioner, getting 4,230 votes, or 47.4 percent, against J. D. Johnston and incumbent Brent Rinehart.

Rinehart was given the boot by voters; he got only 1,900 votes and 21 percent. Johnston got 2,808 votes, or 31.4 percent.

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Murphy Wins Corporation Commission Race

Dana Murphy appears to have won the GOP primary for the Corporation Commission over Rep. Rob Johnson in today's voting.

With 2,217 of 2,234 precincts reporting, Murphy had 68,018 votes to Johnson's 65,274. That made it Murphy 51 percent, Johnson 49 percent.

Murphy now faces incumbent Democrat Jim Roth in the general election.

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76,000 Democrats Reject Rice

Jim Rogers spent no money, didn't campaign and regularly files for office to see his name on the ballot.

Yet, the no-name collected more than 76,000 votes in today's Democratic primary for the U. S. Senate against Andrew Rice, who managed to win by a 59-41 percent margin.

Rogers collected 76,000 votes despite Rice's advertising barrage. Rice's supporters claimed he would win a huge victory, but his 59 percent pales when compared to the 84 percent of the GOP vote collected by incumbent Senator Jim Inhofe.

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Murphy Leads Johnson By 3,000 Votes

Dana Murphy leads Rep. Rob Johnson by about 3,000 votes with about 120 precincts yet to report.

Murphy had 51.1 percent to Johnson's 48.5 percent with 2,112 of 2,234 precincts reporting.

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Terrill Wins Renomination

Rep. Randy Terrill won renomination tonight, topping challenger Curtis Bruehl 74.5 to 25.5 percent with all precincts reporting.

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Mike Reynolds Wins Renomination

State Rep. Mike Reynolds appears to have won renomination, topping GOP opponent Jon Echols 55-45 percent with all 16 precincts reporting.

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SD45: Russell, Loveless Head To Runoff

Steve Russell and Kyle Loveless are headed to a runoff in the GOP contest in Senate District 45.

With all precincts reporting, Russell had 40 percent to 27 percent for Loveless. Jerry Foshee had about 20 percent.

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Caudill Bests Inman, 58-42%

Republican Oklahoma County Clerk Carolynn Caudill appears headed to renomination as she leads former County Commissioner Stan Inman 58-42 percent with about two-thirds of the precincts reporting.

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Rice Falls Below 60%

State Senator Andrew Rice, running against a no-name opponent who spent no money, has an unimpressive 59-41 percent lead over Jim Rogers of Midwest City with more than half the state's 2,234 precincts reporting in the race for the Democratic nomination for the U. S. Senate.

Republican incumbent Senator Jim Inhofe won his primary with about 84 percent over multiple opponents.

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Russell Leads Loveless, Foshee

Steve Russell maintains a lead over Kyle Loveless and Jerry Foshee in the race for the GOP nomination in Senate District 45.

Russell now has 38.6 percent to 27 percent for Loveless and 21 percent for Foshee.

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Murphy Hangs Onto Lead Over Johnson

Dana Murphy and Rep. Rob Johnson are locked in a tight race for the GOP nomination for the Corporation Commission.

With more than half the state's precincts reporting, Murphy leads 50.5 percent to 49.5 percent.

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Russell Leads Loveless, Foshee

Steve Russell leads Kyle Loveless and Jerry Foshee in their fight for the GOP nomination in Senate District 45. Russell has 36 percent to 27 percent for Loveless and 23 percent for Foshee with about a third of precincts reporting.

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Terrill Leads Bruehl 69-31%

Rep. Randy Terrill leads his GOP challenger, Curtis Bruehl, 69-31 percent, with about a third of precincts reporting.

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Reynolds Has 55-45% Lead

Rep. Mike Reynolds leads his GOP challenger, Jon Echols, 55 to 45 percent with about a third of precincts reporting.

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Rinehart Running Third; Loss Evident

Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart appears headed for a third-place finish in today's Republican primary as challengers Brian Maughan and J. D. Johnston are running 1-2 as returns come in.

Maughan had 42 percent, Johnston 33 percent and Rinehart just 21 percent.

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Rice Struggles Against No-Name Opponent

Andrew Rice leads his no-name opponent by a substantial margin in early vote returns, but any hope the state senator had of a blow-out victory appears slim.

With 381 of 2,234 precincts reporting, Rice had barely 60 percent compared to Jim Rogers' 40 percent. But Rogers, a perennial candidate with no political standing, did not campaign and apparently didn't spend a dime on his campaign.

Should the percentages hold, and Rice manages only 61 percent against such an opponent while incumbent U. S. Senate Jim Inhofe wins 80+ percent in a multi-candidate field, Rice's road ahead becomes rocky.

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