Dr. Coburn had a good message and the base believed in what he was saying.
Maybe you like to follow the California crew that run Istook's campaign but most of us who have been around politics for a long time have no desire to get involved. Would hate to be as dumb as they think Oklahomans are with some of their ideas of what will play well in Oklahoma.
You cannot compare Coburn and Istook -- worlds apart along with campaign staffs. Dr. Tom had one of the best group of campaign people I have been around and Istook has the worst.
We had a real chance to take the Governor's office and make a difference but this state has a leadership void in Republican politics at the State level. When you allow your opponent to define you, the candidate is in trouble.
This reminds of Bob Dole in 1996 when we had a chance to take out Clinton and blew it.
There is a reason that Istook was encouraged to run by some folks.
If not supporting Istook wholeheartedly makes me a bad Republican in your eyes, then so be it, but I have my reasons and so do others why we will vote for him but not get fully involved in his campaign. If I have the info on him so do the Dims and if he gets close to Henry and it comes out it can hurt our entire ticket.
We need to protect those down ticket which is why Hiett needs our support.
I didn't vote for Istook in the primary, but if Oklahomans are DUmb enough to fall for the same dirty tricks the DUmocrats have pulled in the past, so be it....they'll just end up with another Brad Henry to complain about.