As unlikely as it may objectively seem, Oklahoma is now the best Dem Senate pickup opportunity after sure-thing Illinois. And the OK GOP is on the verge of a panic. Presumptive GOP nominee Kirk Humphreys is suddenly facing prospective challenges from several prominent Republicans as the state party seeks someone with a better shot at retaining Sen. Nickles' seat.
Everyone's favorite columnist, Bob Novak, gives us the gory details:
Dr. Tom Coburn, the conservative country doctor from Muskogee, Okla., who has published a scathing account of his six years in Congress ("Breach of Trust"), is considering running for a U.S. Senate seat from Oklahoma that Republicans are in danger of losing.
State and national Republican leaders fear Rep. Brad Carson could be the first Democrat since 1994 sent to the Senate from Oklahoma by winning the seat left vacant by the retirement of former Senate Majority Whip Don Nickles. They complain that the designated GOP candidate, former Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys, is not connecting with the grass roots.
State Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony is jumping into the Republican primary, and Coburn is spreading the word that he may run as well. Coburn limited himself to six years in the House (1995-2000), during which he often challenged the Republican leadership.
The Democrats' Carson is getting rave reviews in the state from Dems and Republicans alike. The latest Oklahoma Poll from the
Tulsa World gave Carson an 11-point lead over Humphreys 47-36 with 17 percent undecided (1/14-21. MoE 3.5%).