LiberTea Rally For Ron Paul Excludes Gerhart?

Today's scheduled "LiberTea Rally For Ron Paul" apparently does not include controverial Sooner Tea Party leader Al Gerhart, but it does include a representative of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee.

Gerhart, known for his intemperate outbursts, attacks on others and extreme positions, recently criticized OCPAC leader Charlie Meadows, indicating a rift in the ranks of the ultra-conservative movement.

The list of speakers for this afternoon's event does not include Gerhart.

The keynote speaker is Adam Kokesh, a veteran of the Iraq War. Other speakers include Rep. Charles Key (R-Oklahoma City), former Senator Randy Brogdon, OCPAC Vice President Richard Engle, and Young Americans for Liberty UCO Chapter Vice President Kyle Platt.

Attempts to reach rally planner Lukus Collins for comment on Gerhart's exclusion were unsuccessful.

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Paul Backers Plan 'LiberTea' Rally Saturday

From The Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee ENews ~ Supporters of Presidential candidate Ron Paul are hosting a LIBERTEA Rally this Saturday, December 17th on the South steps of the State Capitol.

The event begins at 1:00 p.m. with the featured speaker being Iraq war veteran, Adam Kokesh. Also speaking will be Randy Brogdon, State Representative Charles Key and Richard Engle.

As far as I know this is the only organized presidential campaign in the state. For more information log on to www.RonPaulOK.com. I would suggest dressing warm, you may want to watch the weather and bring an umbrella or rain gear as well as a folding chair. ~ Charlie Meadows

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Fallin's Pollster Claims Clear Leader Mantle

Mary Fallin is the clear leader in the 2010 race for governor of Oklahoma, her pollster and chief strategist claims.

Ed Goeas, president and CEO of The Tarrance Group in Alexandria, VA, told those listening in on a Fallin conference call that his firm's survey was taken in June of 600 likely voters.

He said it showed three out of four were unfamiliar with Fallin’s Republican challenger, Senator Randy Brogdon of Owasso.

Goeas said Fallin leads Democatic Attorney General Drew Edmonson, 53 percent to 37 percent, and Democratic Lt. Governor Jari Askins, 54 percent to 35 percent, in head-to-head matchups.

"At this point in the campaign she has somewhat higher name ID than either of the two of them,” Goeas said.

The survey showed 75 percent had never heard of Brogdon.

Goeas said the survey showed 62 percent had a favorable opinion of Fallin while 20 percent had an unfavorable view. Brogdon had 6 percent favorable, 6 percent unfavorable.

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Noted Quote: Obama's Healthcare Plan

“Obamacare is an overt attempt to control our lives from the cradle to the grave. President Obama and supporters in Congress are pushing a single payer system. People don’t understand it means the federal government will have control of their healthcare decisions. The government will determine who gets cancer treatment and has access to medications, and will also try to influence end of life decisions that are now made by families and their doctors.” ~ State Senator Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso

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Brogdon Adds $46,000 To Campaign Fund

Senator Randy Brogdon raised about $46,000 for his Republican gubernatorial campaign in the 2nd quarter, his new campaign finance report shows.

Brogdon is the first of the candidates to file for the reporting period; the reports are due by month's end.

Brogon's Ethics Commission report shows he's raised about $75,000 thus far for his campaign and has spent $31,000. He reported $43,400 in cash on hand.

Brogdon's first report showed a single $5,000 donor, Tulsan Lloyd Noble II, and adds a second in this report, New York investor Howard Rich.

Brogdon's report shows most of his contributions came in small amounts of $100 or less from supporters scattered across the state. He had only a few donations of $1,000.

Congresswoman Mary Fallin, also seeking the GOP nomination, and Democrats Lt. Governor Jari Askins and Attorney General Drew Edmondson, have yet to file their new reports.

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Edmondson Makes Governor's Race Official

Attorney General Drew Edmondson confirmed today that he will seek the Democratic nomination for governor, a seat once held by his uncle, the late J. Howard Edmondson.

Edmondson, the son of the late Congressman Ed Edmondson, joins Lt. Governor Jari Askins in the race, which is expected to see a record sum spent in a Democratic primary for the office.

Edmondson said his advisers believe the race will cost between $5 million and $6 million: "It is going to be a very expensive race," he said.

Republicans Mary Fallin, 5th District congresswoman, and Randy Brogdon, state senator from Owasso, have announced as candidates for their party's nomination.

Edmondson said the biggest issue facing the next governor will be the state's economy and budget, which this year experienced a $900 million shortfall due to declining energy prices and the faltering economy.

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Edmondson To Announce He's Running

Attorney General Drew Edmondson will announce he's a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor tomorrow, sources say.

Edmondson's entry into the race sets the stage for what most believe will be one of the most interesting, and contested, Democratic primaries for governor, pitting two statewide office holders with access to huge warchests battling over the airwaves and everywhere else.

Edmondson has scheduled press conferences in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Muskogee. He's already created a campaign fund and initiated an "Edmondson 2010" Internet site.

The press conferences are scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Capitol, 2 p.m. at the Tulsa Press Club and 4:30 p.m. at the Muskogee County Courthouse.

Democrat Askins, of Duncan, Republican Congresswoman Mary Fallin of Oklahoma City and Senator Randy Brogdon of Owasso have already entered the race.

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Henry Signs Ten Commandments Monument Bill

Governor Henry today signed into law a measure that allows the placement of a Ten Commandments monument on the Capitol grounds.

The Senate last week gave House Bill 1330, By Rep. Mike Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, and Senator Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, final passage.

The monument is to be placed where there are numerous monuments, the measure said.

The bill passed despite concerns that it could draw a costly legal challenge and could be interpreted as an endorsement of a religion. Brogdon said a private law firm has offered to defend the bill on a pro bono basis if such a legal challenge occurs.

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McIntosh County: No Record Of Watts' Vote In 2006 Governor's Race But He Says He Voted Absentee

Examination of the voting records of the five announced and potential candidates for governor next year shows that one of them, former Congressman J. C. Watts, apparently did not vote in the 2006 general election for governor.

At least that's what the record shows. However, Watts insists through spokesman Chad Alexander that he did vote, and he and his wife, Frankie, completed their absentee ballots and mailed them together. Her ballot is shown as having been received, while his is not.

Watts, who registered to vote in McIntosh County on June 28, 2004, listing a rural address a few miles outside his hometown of Eufaula, always votes by absentee ballot, county election board records show.

The records show he voted once in 2006, in the July 25th Republican primary. But there's no record that he voted in the general election, in which Congressman Ernest Istook was pitted against incumbent Governor Brad Henry, a race Henry easily won. Two calls were made to the McIntosh County Election Board to confirm that no record exists of a Watts vote in the general election and Alexander said today he also spoke with the election board and confirms there's no record of Watts' absentee ballot having been received.

Watts has not yet announced he's a candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, but he is expected to do so soon. He is now a Washington lobbyist.

Records in Stephens County show that Democrat Jari Askins, lieutenant governor who is an announced candidate for her party's nomination for governor, registered to vote at her current address in Duncan on October 20, 1971. She has voted at least 67 times. In 2006, the record shows, she voted on February 14th, April 4th, July 25th, August 22nd and November 7th.

Records in Tulsa County show that Republican Randy Brogdon, state senator who is an announced candidate for his party's nomination for governor, registered to vote at his current address in Owasso on August 13th, 1980. He has voted at least 38 times. In 2006, the record shows, he voted on July 25th, August 22nd and November 7th.

Records in Oklahoma County show that Democrat Drew Edmondson, attorney general who has not yet announced he is a candidate for his party's nomination for governor but is expected to do so, registered to vote at his current address on December 18th, 2005. He has voted at least 10 times; he was a regular voter at his previous address as well. In 2006, the record shows, he voted on March 7th, May 9th, July 25th, August 22nd and November 7th.

Records in Oklahoma County show that Republican Mary Fallin, congresswoman who is an announced candidate for her party's nomination for governor, registered to vote at her current address on October 24th, 1986. She has voted at least 63 times. In 2006, the record shows, she voted on March 7th, July 25th, August 22nd and November 7th.

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Is Watts About To Announce In Governor's Race?

There's word today from multiple sources that former 4th District Congressman J. C. Watts, now a Washington lobbyist, is about to enter the 2010 governor's race.

Watts has said for weeks he'll make a decision by Memorial Day. If he gets into the race for the Republican nomination, he'll join Congresswoman Mary Fallin and State Senator Randy Brogdon of Owasso, both of whom already have announced.

In what appears to be a coincidence, word that Watts may be about to enter the race comes at the same time as word there's a new statewide poll that will be released on Tuesday showing that if Watts does enter the race, he will be in a competitive position with Fallin, considered the front-runner for the nomination.

"He's at 95 percent (to run)," said one source in a position to know.

Fallin's pollster, The Tarrance Group in Washington, earlier distributed a memo to supporters showing Fallin in the lead. The late April poll showed Fallin preferred among registered Republicans with 45.3 percent of the vote to 25.9 percent for Watts. Brogdon, of Owasso, got 5 percent.

A SoonerPoll released earlier this month showed Fallin at 48 percent, Watts at 34 percent.

Democrats Jari Askins, lieutenant governor, and Drew Edmondson, attorney general, are the top Democrats. Askins has announced, Edmondson has not.

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Brogdon's Neighbors Donate To Campaign

Senator Randy Brogdon's campaign for the Republican nomination for governor is being fueled, in part, by his neighbors in his hometown of Owasso, his campaign finance report for the first quarter shows.

Of the $22,700 Brogdon raised for his campaign in a relatively short period, at least $3,500 of the contributions listed by name came from eight Owasso residents.

Brogdon, one of two announced candidates (Congresswoman Mary Fallin also has announced) for the GOP nomination, received large donations from Tulsa investor Lloyd Noble II ($5,000) and Mustang publisher Richard Engle ($4,750).

Other donors include Charles Helscel of Owasso, $1,000; Gordon Cummings of Owasso, $1,000; Bob Davis of Owasso, $500; Thomas Kimball of Owasso, $1,000; Neal Jackson of Tulsa, $1,000; Jon Lantz of Tulsa, $1,000; and David Atkinson of Tulsa, $1,000.

Brogdon's report shows only a single expenditure, $300, for maintenance of his campaign website.

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Attorneys Fuel Edmondson Campaign With $247,000; Fallin's Daily Average Tops In Field

If the race for the Democratic nomination for governor next year comes down to which candidate gets the most money from attorneys, Drew Edmondson will win hands down.

Analysis By Mike McCarville

The sitting attorney general, who has not yet officially announced he's a candidate, raised $289,385 in the first quarter of the year, $247,020 of it coming from attorneys with $65,000 of it in $5,000 chunks.

Declared candidate Lt. Governor Jari Askins, on the other hand, has just three $5,000 donors in her total of $117,945. Most of her donors gave in small amounts and few are attorneys.

On the Republican side, Congresswoman Mary Fallin's fundraising total is $108,565, with nine donors of $5,000 and she appears to lead the field in dollars-per-day-average.

Senator Randy Brogdon has just one $5,000 donor in his total of $22,700.

The campaign finance reports of the candidates show the following maximum donors:

EDMONDSON: (all attorneys unless otherwise noted) Terry West, Shawnee; Preston Trimble, Norman; Richard A. Bell, Norman; Tricia Everest, Oklahoma City; J. D. Williams, Pearsall, Texas; Cary Petterson, Texarkana, Texas; Dickstein, Shapiro, Washington; Mitchell Garrett, Tulsa; Darren Cleck, Radnor, Pennyslvania; Reggie Whitten, Edmond; Fred Boettcher, Ponca City; David Garrett, Oklahoma City; Dave Roberts, Oklahoma City; and Ada oilman Mike Cantrell. Edmondson appears to have averaged raising about $3,528 per day, weekends included, for the 82-day period from January 8th to March 31st even though many of his donations from numerous attorneys arrived on the same day.

ASKINS: Charles Harrison, Oklahoma City businessman;Tina Bonner, Duncan; Joan Hambrick, Oklahoma City. Askins appears to have averaged raising about $2,457 per day, weekends included, for the 48-day period February 12th to March 30th.

FALLIN: David Rainbolt, Oklahoma City banker; David Freymiller, trucking company owner; Leo Baxter, Lawton; Floyd Gilreath, Edmond businessman; Jim Everest, Oklahoma City investor; Dan Freymiller, Bethany trucking company owner; Gary D. Smith, Edmond businessman; Albert Kelly, Bristow banker; and Rep. David Dank, Oklahoma City. Fallin appears to have averaged raising about $3,619 per day, weekends included, for the 30-day period March 2nd to March 31st.

BROGDON: Lloyd Noble II, Tulsa investor. Brogdon appears to have averaged raising about $1,513 per day, weekends included, for the 15-day period March 17th to March 31st.

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Poll: Fallin With Huge Lead Over Brogdon, Watts; Askins Leads Edmondson By Slight Margin

The SoonerPoll reports that Congresswoman Mary Fallin has a huge lead over possible gubernatorial primary opponent J. C. Watts and announced opponent Senator Randy Brogdon.

The late April poll shows Fallin preferred among registered Republicans with 45.3 percent of the vote to 25.9 percent for Watts, who has not announced his candidacy. Brogdon, of Owasso, got 5 percent.

In a two-way race for the Democratic nomination Lt. Governor Jari Askins had 33.9 percent and Attorney General Drew Edmondson had 28.6 percent.

The sampling was of 168 registered Democrats, 139 registered Republicans and 11 independents. It was conducted April 23-26 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points.

Of the Republicans surveyed, 23.7 percent indicated they did not have a preference or declined to answer.

"I think J.C. not having been on the ballot since 2002 is having an impact on his numbers. Memories are short in politics," said Bill Shapard of The SoonerPoll, which he heads with political science professor, author and pollster Keith Gaddie.

"I think if J.C. is going to run and be a viable candidate, he's almost going to have to reintroduce himself to the electorate. We've had a few more football stars since he last ran," Shapard told The Associated Press.

Shapard said the poll shows Askins and Edmondson "are well known among the Democratic electorate, which is evidently divided between the two. I think that is going to be a dogfight primary if Edmondson finally commits to the race."

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Fallin Poll: She Leads Watts, Brogdon

Supporters of Congresswoman Mary Fallin are touting the results of an in-house poll by The Tarrance Group that measures her strength against former Congressman J. C. Watts as speculation swirls that he may enter the Republican primary for governor.

Fallin and Senator Randy Brogdon of Owasso have announced they are running. Watts has said he's thinking about it and may make a decision in a few weeks.

The poll reports, "In a trial ballot with Mary Fallin, J.C. Watts, and Randy Brogdon, Fallin has 48% support, including 23% 'definite' support. Watts has 34% support, including 15% 'definite' support and Brogdon receives 4% support, including 2% 'definite' support. The remaining 13% of the Republican electorate is undecided."

The poll also reports that Fallin has a 77 percent favorable rating and Watts has a 79 percent favorable rating.

Fallin, the poll shows, "has majority support from key regions like the Oklahoma City DMA (64%) and from key GOP primary electorate demographic groups like seniors (53%), weekly church attendees (54%), and veterans (54%)...Fallin and Watts are well known and well liked by Republican primary voters. However, on a trial ballot, GOP primary voters prefer Mary Fallin to J.C. Watts by a double digit margin."

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Noted Quote: This Will Be News To Brogdon, Fallin

"I think Republicans are not satisfied with the (gubernatorial) choices.” ~ Former Congressman J. C. Watts, quoted in today's The Oklahoman on whether he will join Senator Randy Brogdon and Congresswoman Mary Fallin in the Republican primary for governor.

On his blog, KTOK afternoon host Mark Shannon observes, "J.C. Watts is sounding like he'll run because (he says) people have told him they're not satisfied with the candidates. And who are these people? People he knows that want him to run. He'll have to explain why he refused to openly support John McCain initially, and alluded to possibly voting for Obama."

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Fallin Tops Brogdon, Watts In Online Poll

Congresswoman Mary Fallin has won an unscientific, online poll of announced and possible Republican contenders fror governor next year conducted by KTOK radio talk show host Mark Shannon on his popular website.

Final results show Fallin with 51.4 percent, Senator Randy Brogdon with 26.5 percent and former Congressman J. C. Watts with 20 percent.

Fallin and Brogdon have announced they are running. Watts has indicated he's "thinking" about the race.

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Gary Jones Wins Resounding Reelection Victory

State Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones won reelection today by a margin of almost 4-to-1 over challenger Cheryl Williams, who sought to move up from the vice chairman's seat.

Convention delegates also voted overwhelmingly to keep the party's presidential primary instead of replacing it with a caucus system, Jones said.

Senator Tom Coburn urged delegates to oppose the switch to a caucus, saying it will dilute the party's message and result in divisions among Republicans in the state.

Coburn also deflected criticism of his vote in favor of a federal bailout package, saying it was the right vote to cast for the security of the nation's financial system.

"If that's the only vote you've got against me, you're in trouble," Coburn said after a convention delegate chastised him for his support of the bill. "To do the right best thing for the country, rather than the right best thing for the politician, is a good way to lead this country."

Coburn also renewed his criticism of a federal report on right-wing extremism by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent this month to law enforcement officials that suggest military veterans and Americans with certain conservative beliefs could be potential terrorists.

"It's a signal of how disconnected Washington is from society," Coburn said. "Dissent is the purest form of patriotism. "The people she (Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano) was describing fits the description of every one of our founding fathers."

Senator Randy Brogdon, who said today he will join Congresswoman Mary Fallin in seeking the GOP nomination for governor, was given a warm reception by those in attendance.

Fallin told that she can be the conservative leader who moves Oklahoma forward. She said she shares the frustration of other conservatives over the Obama administration’s support of higher taxes and bigger government. With the president and Congressional liberals pursuing a series of “misguided” initiatives, Fallin said Oklahomans should not look to Washington for help.

“It is up to us on the state level to enact the reforms that will help insulate us from the misguided policies of the Obama administration and do what Oklahomans have always done: roll up our sleeves and do the right thing,” said Fallin. “Now is the time to put our state on the path to long-term economic stability and prosperity. It is up to us to get Oklahoma moving again, out of recession, out of stagnation, out of the past and into the future.”

Fallin listed the economy, education, health care and tort reform as some of the issues the state needs to focus on.

Former Speaker of the House Todd Hiett said he liked what he heard. “Mary is going to be a great governor,” said Hiett. “She has been serving this state for over 19 years, and she has always been an effective advocate for Oklahoma. She’s got what it takes to move this state forward.”

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Poll: Fallin Leads Gubernatorial Pack

By Randy Krehbiel/Tulsa World Staff Writer ~ U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin appears to have a head start on four other possible candidates for the 2010 governor's race, a recent poll indicates.

Fallin, a Republican from the Fifth District, was the only one of the five with a favorable rating of more than 50 percent. She also had the highest name recognition.

"Even 20 percent of Democrats said they have a strong favorable impression of Mary Fallin, which is pretty high," said Bill Shapard, president of SoonerPoll.com in Oklahoma City.

The survey of 339 likely voters across the state was conducted Feb. 27-March 4. It has a 5.32 percentage point margin of error. The poll was not commissioned by the Tulsa World, although SoonerPoll has conducted other polls for the World.

The sample was 49 percent registered Democrats, 45 percent registered Republicans and 6 percent registered independents, reflecting the state's overall voter registration. All of those surveyed have voted regularly.

Respondents were asked their impressions of five potential gubernatorial candidates: Fallin; U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, a Republican from the Fourth District; state Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso; and Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, both Democrats.

The poll was released at about the same time Brogdon said he's officially a candidate. He had indicated earlier he would join Fallin in seeking the GOP nomination.

Fallin was viewed strongly or somewhat favorably by 57 percent, including 75 percent of Republicans. More than 40 percent of Democrats were strongly or somewhat favorable toward Fallin, a two-term member of Congress who previously spent 12 years as the lieutenant governor.

Among Democrats, Edmondson had a combined favorable rating of 45 percent and Askins 32 percent.

Although the 2010 primaries are more than a year away, there is some indication that voter opinions are already taking shape, Shapard said. He noted that only 15 percent of the Republicans surveyed and 29 percent of Democrats said they are undecided about the race.

"A lot of people are already looking toward it," he said. There was some indication that voters don't know much about individual candidates. Even Edmondson, the state's attorney general since 1995, was unknown to more than a third of the respondents. Askins, the lieutenant governor since 2007, was unknown to nearly half. Cole was unknown to just more than half the respondents, with a favorable rating of 36 percent. Only one-fourth of those surveyed said they had no opinion of Fallin.

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Ten Commandments Bill Advances For Vote

A state Senate committee has approved a bill by Rep. Mike Ritze and Senator Randy Brogdon that would authorize the placement of a monument of the Ten Commandments on state Capitol grounds.

House Bill 1330, by Rep. Ritze, R-Broken Arrow and Brogdon, R-Owasso, would require that a monument to the Ten Commandments be placed on the state Capitol grounds. It would be funded by private entities.

The bill now goes to the Senate floor for action.

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In The Trenches: If He Runs For Governor, J. C. Watts Has Some 'Splainin' To Do To GOP Stalwarts

If former Congressman J. C. Watts, now a Washington lobbyist who operates the J. C. Watts Companies, challenges Congresswoman Mary Fallin in the 2010 Republican primary for governor, he has some explaining to do to Republicans, some of them say.

In The Trenches: Analysis By Mike McCarville

For the past week, The McCarville Report Online has asked numerous Republican workers and party officials how Watts might fare in a 3-way primary with Fallin and Senator Randy Brogdon, who has formed an exploratory committee and is expected to run.

Most agree Watts would be a formidable opponent; he generally is well-liked and those who support him note he's been on the ballot in the past, having won election to the Corporation Commission and to Congress from the 4th District. They concede, however, that his ballot experience doesn't match that of Fallin, who served as lieutenant governor for 12 years and has won the 5th District seat in Congress twice.

It is what Watts has done as a lobbyist that now raises eyebrows and prompts one longtime party official to say he "has some 'splainin' to do if he runs" and another to echo that, adding he's made some odd statements for a "conservative Republican."

"He all but endorsed Barack Obama," said a party official in northwestern Oklahoma. "He never actually did it, but he sure as hell gave aid and comfort to the enemy by what he said."

Said a party official in central Oklahoma in an email: "JC is seen as a DC person coming to OK to run against Cinderella! When JC is exposed as a lobbyist for the ACLU, an infomercial spokesman for a company helping you get money from govt programs and that he publicly stated he supported Obama but just couldn't endorse him.... When that story is told he has 0 support from every person I talked to. If the background is not told then I would say he might have 25 to 30% support."

Said a party official in southwestern Oklahoma: "If JC is gonna get in - I hear he's about 50/50 - sooner the better! He needs to get in, before people line up solid behind Mary! Makes it difficult to get them to change allegiance. And, he's been 'gone' awhile. Think it would be a tough primary! People love JC & they really like Mary! So do I! I would say.... on that scenario also....a 50/50."

Said a longtime party worker and Fallin supporter from southern Oklahoma: "Some elbowed Mary out of the governor's race for Steve Largent (in 2002) and that got us eight years of Brad Henry. Those same people, I hear, are now trying to trump her with J. C. and it's not going to work. She's in the race to stay and she'll win the primary and be elected governor."

In eastern Oklahoma, a veteran Republican who was a volunteer in Watts' campaign for the Corporation Commission in 1990 said she's confused by Watts: "He won that seat in Congress and could have stayed there forever. Then he said he needed to make more money so he quit and became a lobbyist. What's he going to say now? I've got all the money I need and I want to be governor?' He hasn't been involved in Oklahoma politics for a long time. And all that time, Mary has been fighting the fight, building her credentials and gaining experience. Over here, Mary will be very strong against anyone, even in the general election."

If Watts gets into the race, his lobbying work and list of clients is certain to be scrutinized. His website lists present clients as ACLU - Voting Rights Act Coalition; Aetna; Albany State University; AT & T; Black Farmers and Agriculturalists; Black Television News Channel; Bowl Championship Series; Cable News Network (CNN); Coalition for AIDS Relief in Africa; CompuCredit; D&B Specialty Foods; Falcon Properties; FM Policy Focus; Global Hue; Gospel Communications; Grambling State University; Hunt Building Company; John Deere; Keum Bong Construction; NASCAR; Mississippi Valley State University; National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Oklahoma Heart Hospital; Republic of Senegal; Robinson Aviation; Texas College; Turks and Caicos Islands; SAP America; Sepracor; United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee; Winn Companies.

Despite the questions some ask about Watts, others dismiss them as "just politics."

A Cleveland County party worker said Watts "isn't quite the golden boy he was a few years back, but he has lots of support here and elsewhere. I suspect it would be a hot primary and a lot of money would be spent. I think it's a toss-up as to which one of them would win and then you throw Randy Brogdon, and probably a couple of others, into it and it could be very, very close."

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