A rising GOP star fights to survive in Oklahoma

[DonViejo]

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — It’s not easy to get to the right of U.S. Rep. James Lankford, a staunch conservative from a state that prides itself on being “the reddest of the red.” The Baptist minister and onetime leader of one of the nation’s largest Christian youth camps came to Congress three years ago and has preached a hard-right doctrine heavy on gun rights, abortions and the evils of Obamacare.

Yet Lankford, a rising star in the national GOP, now finds himself fighting for political survival in a primary election for a U.S. Senate seat that may show whether the insurgent shock wave that felled leading Republican Eric Cantor in Virginia extends into this part of the nation’s Republican heartland.

Lankford, 46, is being challenged by another conservative, T.W. Shannon, the former speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The race, which focuses on Lankford’s role in GOP leadership positions, has drawn advertising money from national conservative organizations and has left even tea party groups confused over who to support.

National tea party organizations are weighing in for Shannon, but local groups, some of which have backed Lankford in previous races, haven’t chosen sides.

more
http://www.salon.com/2014/06/20/a_rising_gop_star_fights_to_survive_in_oklahoma/

[Still Sensible]

1. Can't wait for this to be over

it is basically a battle of ad campaigns based on "I hate Obama more than he does."

[Fred Sanders]

2. And a battle for Koch money, and who is most Godly AND hateful, of course.

[WhiteTara]

3. May they rip one another to shreds

and the Democrat takes the race.

[plcdude]

4. It has

been a wonder to watch ultra right wing conservatives accuse each other of being closet liberals and supporting Obama. They are so hate-filled and negative. Their (both of them) message is basically that they see their primary job in Washington is to work against anything that the President would want to do and that is it. The hatred they have for Obama knows no bounds and consumes them. Their platforms are the same; destroy ACA, and immigration reform, and anything and everything that Obama puts forward. We shall see who will win but it hardly matters they are pretty much the same political entity. Perhaps the Democrats can use their ads against them but it is an uphill battle in this State.