Cole Says Senate Tax Holiday Plan 'Unworkable'

Congressman Tom Cole released the following statement after the House voted to work with the Senate to extend the payroll tax holiday for one full year. On December 13, the House passed the Middle Class Tax Relief & Job Creation Act, which would extend the payroll tax holiday for one year, reform and extend unemployment benefits, protect access to doctors for Medicare beneficiaries, and accelerate a decision on the Keystone pipeline. The Senate payroll tax plan would only extend the tax cut for two months.

"The Senate plan is simply unworkable and unfair to the American people. The nation's payroll processors overwhelmingly oppose a two-month extension because it is almost impossible to implement and creates unnecessary hardship and uncertainty.

"House Republicans are committed to extending the payroll tax holiday for a full year, and we passed a bill to do that. Now 160 million Americans may be hit with a tax increase in two weeks because Harry Reid and Senate Democrats chose politics over policy. The Senate should come back from vacation and join the House in passing a responsible, one-year plan."

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Leaders Mourn Bellmon, Praise His Record

Governor Henry today ordered that all flags on state property be flown at half staff in honor of former governor and U.S. Senator Henry Bellmon, who died this morning at the age of 88.

“Oklahoma today mourns the passing of a legend,” Henry said.

“Henry Bellmon was not only a proud Oklahoman, but in many ways embodied Oklahoma -- tough-minded, hard-working, honest, patriotic and a true son of the land. He was a man who preferred deeds to words. Most important, Henry Bellmon was a superb leader and public servant who always sought to better this state he so dearly loved. From the State Capitol to the chamber of the United States Senate, Henry Bellmon served his constituents with quiet dignity and an even hand.”

Henry added that he was privileged to have known Bellmon.

“For me, he was a personal hero and an inspiration,” he said. “Gov. Bellmon demonstrated that politics did not have to succumb to the rancor and showmanship that can so often mar the process. He was a consensus builder whose convictions transcended partisanship and ideology. I am grateful to have been friends with this extraordinary man, and I am better for having known him. All Oklahomans, in fact, are better for having benefited from his strong and steady leadership. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time.”

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee: “Henry Bellmon is a giant in Oklahoma history. He served his country, his state, and his family with great honor and always with humility. He leaves a legacy of service to which any public official would and should aspire. Politically, Henry Bellmon put the Republican Party on the map in Oklahoma, and set the path for its growth over the subsequent decades. But he transcended partisan politics, and I join Republicans and Democrats alike in honoring his memory today.”

Congressman Tom Cole: "Henry Bellmon was a great American, a great Oklahoman and a great Republican. He first served his country in combat as a marine in the South Pacific during the Second World War. When he returned home he was elected to the State House of Representatives and later became Republican State Chairman. Next he served as the first Republican governor of our state. He served two terms in the U.S. Senate and was then reelected as governor. Over the years, Henry Bellmon served the people of Oklahoma in every conceivable fashion in terms of public service, private commitment and personal example. He laid the foundation for the modern two-party system in Oklahoma and is rightfully called the 'father of the Oklahoma Republican Party.' I had the pleasure and privilege of serving as State Republican Chairman when he was elected for the second time as governor. Later, I served in the State Senate during his administration. Henry Bellmon led on every issue with courage, commitment, integrity and an unwavering sense of optimism about Oklahoma and its future. Like tens of thousands of other Oklahomans, I honor and appreciate his life, mourn his loss and offer my heartfelt sympathy to his family. Henry Bellmon was an Oklahoma political pioneer - we won't see his like again."

Congresswoman Mary Fallin: “Henry Bellmon was an inspiration to three generations of Oklahoma leaders. He was the father of two-party government in our state and a man who never wavered from his principles and from the cause of good government. From his service as a Marine in World War II, through two terms as Governor and two more as United States Senator, Henry Bellmon was a shining example to all of us that politics and public service can and should attract the best among us. Oklahoma has never produced a finer man or a more devoted public servant. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Kenneth Corn: "Governor Henry Bellmon was the first statewide elected official I ever met when I was 10 years old. Meeting this great leader had a tremendous impact on me then, and still does to this day. He was a true champion of improving education in Oklahoma. The landmark legislation he championed, House Bill 1017, pulled education out of the gutter in Oklahoma and provided it with a standard-driven system that emphasized student achievement unlike anything that had ever been done before. Bellmon was an Oklahoman first, and his service set a high bar for anyone who aspires to be a public servant. We should all remember the statesmanlike leadership Bellmon displayed throughout his life, especially during this polarized political environment in which we now so often find ourselves. Bellmon loved Oklahoma; his love and passion for this state was infectious. Many generation of Oklahomans, and those yet born, are simply better off because of that love and passion. I will miss Governor Bellmon, and am committed to work tirelessly with those on both sides of the aisle to realize the vision he had for our state and its people."

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Cole Moves To Defund Controversial ACORN

Congressman Tom Cole has co-sponsored the "Defund ACORN Act."

This legislation calls for the federal government to cut financial ties with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).

Cole has consistently condemned the housing association's abuses and wants the federal government to stop sending taxpayer dollars to ACORN and its affiliates.

"It defies common sense and common decency that an organization like ACORN receives any federal funding," Congressman Cole said. "The numerous incidents of voter registration fraud should have been enough to stop funding this criminal enterprise, but the recent video tape of ACORN employees making suggestions to a couple as to how they could better conceal and profit from an underage prostitution ring is simply too much. Federal funding for ACORN must stop immediately and permanently."

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The Verdict Features Congressman Tom Cole

Congressman Tom Cole is this weekend's guest on The Verdict.

The Cox Cable show hosted by Mick Cornett and Kent Meyers airs Sunday at 9 a.m. on Cox Channel 7 in Oklahoma City and Channel 3 in Tulsa. The show also airs on Monday at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., and Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.

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Cole: Citizens Should Seek A Second Opinion

Last week President Obama and his liberal Democratic allies in Congress announced plans for a government takeover of America's health care industry. This plan will cost more than a trillion dollars and will be paid for by tax increases and costly mandates on small business owners and by cuts to Medicare. And if you are among the over 250 million Americans who currently have health insurance, get ready for big changes.

By Congressman Tom Cole

For years the left has grossly overstated the true number of Americans who are genuinely and chronically uninsured. Among the alleged 47 million people without insurance are millions who could afford insurance, but simply choose not to buy it. Many of these people are young and healthy and they don't think anything will ever happen to cause them to need insurance. Millions more are people in-between jobs. They may be uninsured at the particular time that the snapshot is taken, but they have been insured in the recent past and they will be insured in the near future.

The plan announced by the Democrats in Congress, and endorsed by President Obama, is not about providing health care for everyone. In fact, their plan will still leave approximately 17 million Americans without insurance. This plan is about taking control of yet another American industry. It is about controlling people and limiting their choices. And it is just the latest step in their frightening march of America towards a European-style socialism.

According to a 2009 study by the non-partisan Lewin Group, the Democrats' health care bill will force 114 million Americans out of their current private health coverage. This includes approximately 106 million individuals who are covered under an existing employer-provided plan. Because the centerpiece of their plan is a government run program based on Medicare, which reimburses doctors for less than the cost of the service delivered, doctors and hospitals have to charge private insurance companies and their customers more in order to make up the difference. As a result, the cost of private health coverage is expected to increase by an estimated $460 per person, or $1,788 for a family of four. This proposal also robs many of America's seniors of health care coverage that they are currently receiving. Those who have signed up for Medicare Advantage, a popular prescription drug plan chosen by many of our country's senior citizens, will see sharp cuts to their program funding.

The final cost of this plan is still being calculated, but most experts - including those who favor this plan - expect it to exceed one trillion dollars. And while Democrats are still trying to figure out how to pay for it, some of the options on the table include costly mandates to small businesses, cuts to Medicare benefits, and taxing people's employer based health care benefits as income.

Lest it sound like I am unsympathetic to the plight of those who are without insurance - I am not. I agree that we have a moral obligation to continue to look for ways to provide basic health care for the weakest and most vulnerable among us. And there are numerous ways that objective can be achieved without plunging our nation headlong into socialized medicine. The proposal being promoted by President Obama is a prescription for rationed care, higher costs, longer waits and economic disaster. American's would be well advised to seek a second opinion.

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Study: Boren Backs Obama At 81% Level

Democratic Congressman Dan Boren backed President Barack Obama 81 percent of the time in the president's first six months in office, according to a new study that said Obama is on pace for the most successful presidential year in recent history in terms of congressional support. The study is reported in today's The Oklahoman.

Republican Rep. Mary Fallin had the second-highest score in the Oklahoma congressional delegation in presidential support this year. She backed Obama's position 50 percent of the time.

The scores were compiled by Congressional Quarterly, whose publications cover Capitol Hill and national politics.

But the measurements of presidential support were based on relatively few votes.

According to CQ, the president took a position on only 26 votes cast by the House and 37 cast by the Senate.

One notable issue on which Fallin backed the president and broke from the majority of her party was on the bill allowing the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco.

Among Oklahoma Republicans, Congressman Frank Lucas had the lowest presidential support score, at 27 percent. The others: Senator Tom Coburn, 33 percent; Congressman Tom Cole, 38 percent; Senator Jim Inhofe and Congressman John Sullivan, both 43 percent.

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Noted Quote: Defend The 2nd Amendment

"The threat to our individual right to bear arms is immediate and real. That's why I've started an online petition demanding President Obama faithfully execute his duty to defend the Constitution and our individual right to bear arms. Since taking office, President Obama's administration has been quick to blame American gun owners and manufacturers for the violence committed by Mexican drug-runners south of our border. No wonder, when Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel announced the Obama strategy just days after his election: 'never let a serious crisis go to waste... it's an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before.'" ~ Congressman Tom Cole, R-4th District

To sign Cole's petition, click here.

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Cole Launches 2nd Amendment Website

4th District Congressman Tom Cole today launched a new website on which viewers can show their support of the 2nd Amendment by signing an online petition.

Cole began circulation of the petition at last weekend's Republican State Convention and reportedly secured more than 700 signatures.

Today, Cole said, "The threat to our individual right to bear arms is immediate and real. That's why I've started an online petition demanding President Obama faithfully execute his duty to defend the Constitution and our individual right to bear arms.

"Since taking office, President Obama's administration has been quick to blame American gun owners and manufacturers for the violence committed by Mexican drug-runners south of our border. No wonder, when Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel announced the Obama strategy just days after his election: 'never let a serious crisis go to waste... it's an opportunity to do things you couldn't do before.'"

The website is http://www.defendthe2ndamendment.com/.

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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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Tom Cole Opposes Obama Budget

Statement by Congressman Tom Cole, R-4th District, on the House floor: "I rise to oppose this Democratic budget. As we have heard repeatedly tonight, it spends too much, it taxes too much, and it borrows too much.

"But I want to be fair to my friends on the Democratic side. There is one area of the budget where there is a glaring exception to that rule, and that is the defense of the United States of America.

"Over the course of a 10-year projected Obama budget, we will move from 20 percent of the Federal budget down to 14 percent devoted to defending the country. We will move from just over 4 percent of the gross national product to 3 percent to defend the United States of America. We will risk canceling major weapons systems, like the future combat system, a tanker that will help us project air power around the world and missile defense, at a time when the North Koreans and the Iranians are developing missiles. That risks jobs, that risks security. That is reckless in a dangerous world.

"That is not just my opinion, Madam Chairman. Let me read from Robert Samuelson's recent article, 'Obama, the Great Pretender.'

"'It would be responsible for Obama to acknowledge the big gamble in his budget. National security has long been government's first job. In his budget, defense spending drops from 20 percent to 14 percent of the total from 2008 to 2016, the smallest share since the 1930s. The decline presumes a much safer world. If the world doesn't cooperate, deficits will grow.'

"More importantly, American soldiers and American security will be at risk, Madam Chairman. So let's reject this budget because it does spend too much, it does borrow too much, it does tax too much. And let's embrace the Republican alternative which spends less, borrows less, taxes less, but, most importantly, puts more resources where it counts, defending the United States of America."

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Cole Says No To Race For Governor

By Jim Myers/Tulsa World Washington Bureau ~ U.S. Rep. Tom Cole announced Monday he will not run for governor next year.

"It was a close call. I thought about it long and hard,'' the Oklahoma Republican said. "Strangely enough at the end, I thought Oklahoma was doing awfully well.''

Cole then cited challenges on the federal level, adding that he thought he could offer more for Oklahoma by remaining in Congress. Taxes and budget issues topped his list of concerns. Cole said his philosophy has been ''you always ride to the sound of the guns.''

A new member of the House Appropriations Committee, one of the more coveted panels in Congress, Cole also reflected on the importance of that appointment as well as the seniority he has built up in his current post.

"I am pretty pleased with the candidates that are out there,'' he said.

Rep. Mary Fallin already has jumped into the race on the Republican side, and former Rep. J.C. Watts and state Sen. Randy Brogdon are considering a bid.

Cole's announcement will fuel speculation that Watts will make the race. The two men have been close friends for years.

"I certainly would never run against J.C. Watts,'' Cole said, adding, however, his decision against running was not connected to Watts' future. "I don't know what he is going to do.''

Asked if he would be make an endorsement, Cole said it would be premature for him to say.

On the Democratic side, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins has said she is running and Attorney General Drew Edmondson is scheduled to make an announcement later this year. State Treasurer Scott Meacham is considered a potential candidate

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Cole Calls For Geithner's Ouster

Congressman Tom Cole today called on President Obama to remove Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner from his post.

"The Treasury Department has been on a collision course ever since Tim Geithner took the helm," Congressman Cole said. "From the very beginning his nomination was riddled with controversy. He didn't pay his taxes but was confirmed anyway, when only weeks later other administration nominees were toppled by similar tax delinquencies. Secretary Geithner was also a major architect of the budget-busting stimulus plan that has saddled our country with debt as far as the eye can see. And now we find out that despite President Obama's insistence that he only recently learned of the outrageous A.I.G. bonus payments, they were actually authorized by his own Treasury Secretary.

"Simply put, it is clear that Secretary Geithner is in over his head and if he doesn't realize this fact and step down from his position, President Obama should remove him."

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AP's Jenkins: Richardson Eyes 2010 Race

By Ron Jenkins/The Associated Press ~ When she announced she would be running for governor in 2010, U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin didn’t seem to have a lot of Republican primary opposition on the horizon.

Only fellow Rep. Tom Cole was said to be considering the race, and Cole has not made a public comment about his political future since Fallin announced.

Now at least three other possible GOP primary candidates are testing the waters — former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts, state Sen. Randy Brogdon of Owasso and a new entry — Tulsa attorney Gary Richardson.

"I’ve been toying with the idea for a few weeks,” Richardson told The Associated Press of the possibility he will run "most probably as a Republican.”

Read the entire story at http://www.newsok.com/tulsa-lawyer-gary-richardson-may-join-race-for-oklahoma-governor/article/3353700?custom_click=pod_headline_politics.

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Cole: Big Government Back Via Obama

By Congressman Tom Cole

Coming on the heels of a $789 billion stimulus package, and a $410 billion Omnibus spending bill, President Obama has now presented the nation with the largest federal budget in our nation's history. The staggering $3.5 trillion budget proposal will raise taxes, grow the size of government and increase our deficits over the next ten years.

The President's budget will increase taxes by $1.6 trillion over the next ten years. Marginal income taxes will be raised - hurting the very small businesses America needs to pull us out of recession. The marriage penalty will return, as will the death tax. And the tax deductibility of home mortgage interest and charitable donations will be severely restricted.

Remarkably, despite the massive tax hikes, President Obama's budget spends every penny - and more. Today's national debt level is over $10 trillion. Under the President's budget the national debt will balloon to $23.1 trillion by 2019. To put this in perspective, the amount of debt proposed by this budget is more than the total amount of debt the United States has acquired from 1789 until today.

This unprecedented growth in the size and expense of the federal government is truly stunning. And what makes it all the more stunning is the absolute disconnect between the President's rhetoric and his actions. He and his liberal allies who control both houses of Congress pay lip service to fiscal responsibility, government transparency and ending government waste. These are all principles which members of both parties should be happy to work together to achieve. Unfortunately, the President's actions demonstrate that he has no such intentions. His actions make it abundantly clear that the failed economic policies of high taxes and limitless deficits are once again the order of the day.

Indeed, the era of big government is back with a vengeance.

Abraham Lincoln once said, "You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." Those are wise words for Congress to consider as action is taken to get the economy moving. In the coming weeks the House and Senate will begin taking up portions of President Obama's budget proposal. This will be a new opportunity for members of Congress to push back, cut waste and trim the taxpayers' burden. I am willing to work with the President and those on the other side of the aisle to make sure the interests of American taxpayers are given first priority. Hopefully, they will play ball too.

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Fallin, Askins Top TMRO Governor's Race Poll

Congresswoman Mary Fallin and Lt. Governor Jari Askins topped The McCarville Report Online's straw poll of potential candidates for governor next year.

Republican Fallin got 28.3 percent of the overall vote, Democrat Askins 20 percent.

Askins topped Attorney General Drew Edmondson among those who voted for the two Democrats. Askins got 67.2 percent to 32.8 for Edmondson.

Among Republicans, Fallin got 40.4 percent, Brogdon 29.8 percent, former Congressman J. C. Watts 18.2 percent, Congressman Tom Cole 10.2 percent and Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee 1.5 percent. Fallin has declared she's running, Brogdon has signaled he may, Watts is known to be considering the race as is Cole, while Coffee has not indicated any interest.

Brogdon's support rose dramatically after a blog asked its readers to vote for him.

There's nothing scientific about our poll; anyone could vote.

The total vote count was 391.

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Fallin, Edmondson At Front Of Governor Pack

Democrat Drew Edmondson and Republican Mary Fallin lead the possible primary elections for governor next year, a new survey out today shows.

The SoonerPoll, conducted by Keith Gaddie and Bill Shapard, shows Edmondson leading Lt. Governor Jari Askins 41.9-28.7 percent, and Fallin leading Congressman Tom Cole 53 to 31.1 percent; Senator Randy Brogdon drew 1.3 percent.

Said Gaddie: "We direct your attention to several interesting elements of the survey, including the strong name familiarity and positives of Rep. Fallin, her strength in the trial heat across geography and especially among core conservatives and high-propensity voters, and her strong support across men, women, married and single voters.

"In the Democratic primary, note the strength of AG Edmondson but also the notable degree to which many high-propensity voters are not familiar with any of the aspirants. My initial reaction is that Randy Brogdon is definitely smoking something if he thinks he has any shot at all to become governor.

"Second, it is evident that Cole's ID is weak even among Republicans, and his favorables (36.3 to 12.7 unfavorable) are weaker among those core GOP voters who are the most likely to vote. If you run this primary, Cole has to pull down Mary's favorables (never been done before) (56.7 to 18.9 percent unfavorable) and also pump up his ID and his own favorables outside the district.

"Askins can overhaul Edmondson, but its the same kind of problem -- displace the longest-serving DEM who has strong favorables in the party (44.6-20.6 versus 32.3-20.7 for Askins).

"The biggest shock for Rep. Brogdon will be that NO ONE KNOWS OF HIM (3.8 percent favorable, 3.6 perent unfavorable).

"The biggest shock for Cole, even with his polling experience, will be his lack of name ID. These numbers are not as good as Istook's in 2005. Fallin-- strong with core conservatives. Can run hard against Cole on his get-along approach, failure in 2008 US House races, ouster as RNCC chair," Gaddie concluded.

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SPR: Governor's Race Could Be Crowded

By Hastings Wyman/Southern Political Report ~ Last week second-term US Rep. Mary Fallin (R) announced her candidacy for governor of Oklahoma. Speaking to the Oklahoma County Republican Convention, the former lieutenant governor said she would seek the governorship, prompting cheers from the delegates. Fallin, 54, who has served in the legislature, as the state’s first woman -- and first Republican -- lieutenant governor, and in Congress, enters the race as a very strong contender for the GOP nomination and for the General Election.

In her remarks, Fallin said she wanted to use her experience to help Oklahoma during this recession “and lead us into a prosperous economy.”

Fallin “is in the catbird seat,” says long-time Sooner State political commentator Mike McCarville. “She’s never lost a race. She’s solid in the 5th District (Oklahoma City, etc.) She will be awfully tough.”

Another factor that will help her in the primary is that during her nearly 20 years in elective office, including 12 as lieutenant governor, “she did every rubber chicken dinner for everyone who asked,” says University of Oklahoma political science professor -- and pollster -- Keith Gaddie. “She has collected tons and tons of support for that.”

But even if Fallin is the early favorite, at least on the GOP side, she could well face a contested primary. US Rep. Tom Cole (R) has hinted that he might be interested in the governorship, and has yet to say yea or nay on the 2010 race.

Former Congressman J. C. Watts (R), once the only African-American Republican in Congress, has also expressed interest in running. Observers, however, doubt he would leave his lucrative lobbying work in Washington to re-enter Oklahoma politics.

There are several less well-known political figures who could run. One is state Sen. Randy Brogdon, who has strong ties to the more conservative wing of the Oklahoma GOP. Brogdon might have an opening against either Fallin or Cole over their support for President Bush’s stimulus package. Cole voted for it initially and on final passage. Fallin first voted against it, but supported it on the second vote. “None of this stuff is particularly popular in Oklahoma,” says Gaddie. Both, however, opposed President Obama’s stimulus legislation.

Another possible Republican contender is Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, a powerful influence on state government. “He’s running the policy agenda right now,” notes Gaddie. And businessman (oil) Bob Sullivan, who got 31% against Ernest Istook, in the 2006 GOP gubernatorial primary, has also been mentioned.

On the Democratic side, interest in the governorship is almost as strong. With incumbent Gov. Brad Henry (D) term-limited, last year, Lt. Gov. Jari Askins announced she would run for governor in 2010.

“She’s pretty dog-gone strong,” says McCarville, noting that she is wealthy and “has shown no hesitation to spend it in the past.” He adds, “We could end up with female nominees in both parties. That would be a first.”

Another Democrat, state Attorney General Drew Edmondson, is also a possible gubernatorial candidate. He would be formidable, but his interest in the race has been known for some time and didn’t prevent Askins from entering the race.

Projecting a General Election winner at this early stage is risky at best. One private poll, however, shows either Fallin or Watts, both Republicans, leading Democrats Askins and Edmondson by more than the margin of error. Neither GOPer, however, exceeded 50 percent.

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Watts Visit To Capitol Fuels Speculation

A State Capitol visit today by former Congressman J. C. Watts has fueled speculation he may be considering the 2010 race for governor, sources report.

Watts, who left Congress to start his own Washington-based consulting firm, has been mentioned as a potential candidate along with his mentor, Congressman Tom Cole, and others.

Whether Watts' visit today was prompted by Congresswoman Mary Fallin's weekend declaration that she will seek the GOP nomination for governor is unknown.

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Confirmed: Brogdon Eyes Governor's Race

Republican Senator Randy Brogdon of Owasso, confirms that he is considering a race for governor next year.

Other potential GOP candidates include Congresswoman Mary Fallin and Congressman Tom Cole. Fallin says she is looking at the race and Cole is known to be considering it as well.

Brogdon, in the Senate since 2002, said he is not satisfied with the existing state leadership.

Brogdon describes himself as a constitutional conservative who believes in protecting life, liberty and property.

He said he will need to raise $1.5 million to $2 million for the race. Previous winners have raised considerably more, but Brogdon said he will have “a grassroots organization like you have never seen before.”

Lt. Governor Jari Askins, Duncan Democrat, has officially announced she's running; Attorney General Drew Edmondson, a Democrat, is considering the race and likely will announce soon.
Others mentioned are U.S. Reps. Mary Fallin and Tom Cole, both Republicans.

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Fallin Confirms Interest In Governor's Race

Congresswoman Mary Fallin has confirmed she's "looking at" the 2010 race for governor.

The former lieutenant governor made the remark after being asked about the race while appearing at the Oklahoma Press Association convention in Tulsa.

Asked about her interest in the race, Fallin said, "I'm looking at it."

Congressman Tom Cole, asked the same question, hesitated, then said, "I'm looking. Mainly, I'm just watching Mary."

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