07/03/2002 Archived Entry: "OK & FL House Races"

Two races just below the radar that are going to be competitive, in FL 24th, 2000 Election Looms as Issue in 2002 with Jacobs against Feeney, a likely toss-up. DC's Political Report ranks the race as a 5-star lean to the Democrats.

In OK, The Watts Story adds to the number of seats that the GOP must defend nationwide:

The other vacancy Watts leaves is in the 4th district of Oklahoma. While Watts consistently won that seat easily, and Bush pulled in over 60 percent there in 2000, GOP retention here is not a sure bet.
About 68 percent of registered voters in the Norman-based district are Democrats. They are Dixie Democrats, but Democrats nonetheless.

I think Kevin Butler has everything in place to grasp this seat. Still, DC thinks Cole is the favorite, With Watts' Future In Doubt, Cole Gets Ready to Run. Either Butler or Benson is going to have a shot, and Cole's primary is going to be contested, so this will be one to watch. Look Okie Dixiecrats, this guy Butler is close enough to a Republican already!

Replies: 8 comments

MyDD

Thinks are changing dramatically. The Iowa governor's race is in the toss-up column. The new Suffolk University Poll gives Romney a commanding 51%-28% lead over O'Brien...and meanwhile, the Texas governor's race is now more like a toss up with Perry well under 50.

Posted by G.C. Raj @ 07/03/2002 12:59 PM PST

This is why I could never bring myself to vote for GOP...and why I strongly feel that Connie Morella should be knocked off in this year's elections:

"But the promise of outreach to minorities never materialized. "He could have been, should have been, might have been the point man for a really prolonged effort in the minority community. In point of fact, that effort" never even began, says Stuart Rothenberg, a political analyst."

Read on:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0702/p02s02-uspo.html

Posted by G.C. Raj @ 07/03/2002 05:10 PM PST

Party of Tom DeLay, and the rednecks who drafted the Texas Republican Platform in 2000. No self-respecting minority should vote for GOP:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/775951.asp

Posted by G.C. Raj @ 07/03/2002 06:31 PM PST

I suppose it is prudent to wait for polling data, but it seems that the Republican redistricting of Utah may be backfiring. Matheson is prevailing in his district and Thomas is looking pretty good in the First. Will heads roll at the RCCC?

Posted by T.R. @ 07/04/2002 06:48 PM PST

Democrats should hope not, the worst thing that happened for them in 2001 was when Gilmore got the axe. Early polling showed Thomas behind, but the Independent factor of Utah, 75% of voters, plays a huge role in the elections there. Matheson, winning in these two different districts, will have a strong shot at being Gov or Senator in the state at some point in the future.

Posted by myDD @ 07/04/2002 08:01 PM PST

Matheson has a lot of family connections in the new district...however, it is still touch and go...perhaps a toss-up. I should be in the area around July 18...I will try to gauge.

Posted by G.C. Raj @ 07/05/2002 07:06 AM PST

Butler is not going to run.

Posted by myDD @ 07/06/2002 01:37 PM PST

It looks like Odem is going to be the Dem nominee. He won about 38% against Watts last time, and would be hard pressed to do more than 5-7% better this time around. Butler opted out after taking a hard good look, he's got some corporate shoo-in position instead. Watts is going to back Coles. A likely GOP hold here, but another open seat that is going to take funds to keep.

Posted by myDD @ 07/06/2002 08:48 PM PST