Poll Shows OK Rep. Istook Would Win an Open GOP Senatorial Primary

Newsmax.com ^ | 09-13-03 | Not given

[Theodore R.]

Poll Shows Oklahoma Rep. Istook Winner of GOP Senatorial Primary

Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Okla) will be a sure winner in a contest with Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys if he enters the Republican primary for the senatorial nomination in the 2004 primaries.

A confidential poll by Wilson Research Strategies done for the Friends of Ernest Istook group concludes that based on an exhaustive samplings "the Republican nomination is Istook's should he decide to seek it and that Congressman Istook is the Republican's best candidate to hold any open Senate seat in 2004."

The possibility that a Senate seat will be open is based on speculation that current GOP Senator Don Nickles may not run for re-election. That speculation is fueled by Nickles statement to Roll Call, the Capitol Hill publication, that he will not make a decision about running until April, 2004.

The poll matched Istook against Humphreys and showed Istook as being far more familiar to voters than Humpheys. Fully 60 percent of the voters know enough about Istook to rate their opinion of him, against just 33 percent for Humphreys.

In a primary against Humphreys, the poll showed Istook with 59 percent of the GOP vote against 28 percent for Humpheys.

Speculation that Nickles will retire is based on the belief that he resents being shut out of his leadership role following the resignation of Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) in late 2002. Nickles had been assistant minority leader before the GOP took control of the Senate after the 2002 elections and was expected to be Lott's right hand in the new Republican-led Senate.

[Theodore R.]

Nickles had been assistant minority leader before the GOP took control of the Senate after the 2002 elections and was expected to be Lott's right hand in the new Republican-led Senate.

Unfortunately, Senator Nickles had a chance to challenge Lott BEFORE the ridiculous Strom Thurmond birthday escapade, and he backed away. He missed his golden opportunity. Now he no longer seems to want to stay in the Senate. Hopefully, Istook, who seems to have the desire to serve, can win this seat. Do you think Istook will be hurt by his being a native Texan?

[Theodore R.]

Senator Nickles reminds me of the old adage: "strike while the iron is hot." He demurred, then Lott was replaced by another "squishy" Republican. He sadly missed his chance to lead. Yet, he may have known that the other GOP senators would not have approve him as the leader.

[WOSG]

"just damn" ... even after the Lott thing exploded he was demurring, and let Frist be the guy... what a mistake, we see it already on issues. Frist isnt bad, but Nickles would have been better. I hope he doesnt retire, we still need him!!

[The Old Hoosier]

Istook would be just as good as Nickles as a senator.

[Amish]

But not as good as J.C. would be....

Why wasn't he polled?

[Theodore R.]

Istook is a TX Southern Baptist turned OK Mormon. Do you think some Southern Baptists in OK (it is a heavily Baptist state) might refuse to support Istook in a general election? Many Southern Baptists consider Mormonism to be a "cult." Could religion become an issue in the OK Senate race?

It is believed that Al Smith lost OK in 1928 because of Catholicism being unaccepted there. Years later, Gov. and Sen. Dewey Bartlett, R-OK, a right-to-life Catholic smashed that roadblock..

[Theodore R.]

Another great candidate would be former Rep. Tom Coburn, R-OK, who is strongly anti-establishment of both partiess. I assume that Dr. Coburn, a man who could not be bought with political promises, has no interest in returning to politics.

I would be satisfied with Istook. I think he is a decent man and reliably conservative.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[nickcarraway]

But Nickles was in a tough spot to do that, because he was the assitant monority leader, so it would look disloyal. Plus, if you fail, well... If you are in Nickles position, you usually have to wait to inherit the position.

[EternalVigilance]

Oklahomans have an embarrassment of riches. If only other states were so blessed.

PKM - comments on this subject matter?

[Theodore R.]

*ping*

What is your analysis of Istook? Are you familiar with him?

[fieldmarshaldj]

OK politics *ping*

Istook is a solid Conservative, no real problems with him aside from perhaps that he may be considered "too Conservative" in a statewide race (he's the most Conservative member from OK) and perhaps "too OK City" (he's from suburban Warr Acres) for some. Nickles hails from Ponca City and Inhofe from Tulsa. But I have a big problem with a poll that only has Congressman Istook (not to mention commissioned for his campaign !) and Mayor Humphreys (of whom I don't know much) in it, and not the man I consider the natural heir to this seat, J.C. Watts. I hope to see a nice smashing breakthrough for African-American Republicans Watts and Herman Cain being elected to the Senate next year.

[PhiKapMom]

Istook would be really good but I like Mayor Humphries as well.

We still don't know if Nickles is running or not for another term. From all accounts he really likes his new Chairmanship because he controls where the money is spent and you won't have a better guy for that.

In 1998 when Sen Nickles agreed not to challenge Lott of Majority Leader, Lott promised to step aside in 2000 and let Nickles run for Majority Leader. We all know what happened there, Lott went back on his word and why to this day I have very little respect for Lott. Nickles was term limited as assistant majority leader/whip and chose to take a Senate Chairmanship in lieu of challenging Frist. Still not sure how that all went down.

As for J.C., I personally have not ruled out that he won't run for Senator. If he does throw his name in the race, I believe J.C. will be our next Senator.

All of the candidates are conservative and will beat anything the RATs have to throw against them IMO. If J.C. doesn't run for Senate then I would look to see him challenge the RAT Governor Henry in 2006! Still cannot believe that Henry won thanks to an Indy who was a Republican and Keating's former law partner. He promised no taxes on almost everything, no tuition, and got 100,000 stupid voters to vote for him which gave us Henry who cannot make a decision in a hurry if his life depending on it. Cannot stand the man's politics and his wishy washy approach to everything.

That kinds of sums up Oklahoma politics as it stands right now -- everyone waiting for Sen Nickles to decide if he is stepping down. We will still have two Republican conservative Senators if he does step down, but only one with a lot of seniority!

[HardStarboard]

I'd send money to Istook. He just helped tube Seattle's Light Rail System that would cost over 4.8 Bill for 14 miles - start nowhere, journey around anything important, and terminate nowhere.

He heads the Transportation Committee, and just pulled a 500 million Fed Grant to Seattle for this farce! Good man!

[Theodore R.]

All of the candidates are conservative and will beat anything the RATs have to throw against them IMO.

Same was said in 2001 about the 2002 OK gubernatorial campaign. Wrong then!

[EternalVigilance]

Thank you for that wonderful encapsulation of the sitution in OK.

Like I said, if only all the states had your problem--loads of conservatives to choose from! :-)

[PhiKapMom]

We don't have an Indy running in the race for Senator. That guy is now dead meat here in OK after he gave us a RAT Governor. He was a Republican who knew he couldn't win in the primary so 95% of his campaign contributions came from himself so he could siphon votes from Largent. Richardson had better never come around any Republicans ever again. His whole basis for running was that he would do away with all taxes basically and stupid cockfighting supporters bought into Richardson!

[savedbygrace]

He didn't have the votes. Self-appointment is frowned upon.

[Impy]

AFAIK he said he was retiring from the house so he could raise his young kids back home. If so maybe he should run for Governor. He could beat Henry. He did win statewide as Corporation Commissioner. An open senate seat will be easier to win than beating Cock Fighting Enthusiast Henry so we need our strongest candidate to take him out. I hear the rats will probably nominate Drew Edmondson the AG if he runs.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I think only Largent has himself to blame in this. I never realized how big a jerk he was until he opened his yap over the Elian Gonzalez matter. Karmic payback for him, albeit the good folks of OK also suffered for his poor judgment, too... :-(

It's too bad Wes Watkins didn't run for Governor, he would've won handily. He, of course, did for Frank Keating in '94 what you-know-who did for Henry last November.