Poll Shows Oklahoma Rep. Istook Winner of GOP Senatorial Primary

[goobergunch]

<snip>

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

more...http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2003/9/13/125534.sht... ( source)

I note that they don't bother to match him up against Rep. Brad Carson, who would be our best candidate.

[NewJerseyDem]

1. I hope Nickles does retire

I'm not exactly sure why he would but it would be fantastic if he didn't run. Carson would certainly be our best candidate and Istook doesn't seem like a particularly strong candidate. It would be great to add this to our list of potential pickups.

[rads]

2. Because he's a baby that needs coddling....

Nickles is upset because the strings were pulled to have Frist become majority leader rather than him after Trent had his little David Duke moment.

Personally I think that this is all a childish front to scare the hell out of the people that shunned him and that Nickles will end up running, but even if he doesn't this will be a tough (and unlikely) Dem pickup. Regardless though, an open seat would mean more RSCC resources spent on what would otherwise be a safe Red-zone seat, so it would be nice to see Nickles pack it in, although the prospect of Istook with the clout of a senator should scare us all.

[NewJerseyDem]

4. Possibly

Nickles is only in his 50's. It is very rare for senators to retire so young. He may just be trying to scare them because I think that he is very upset that he isn't majority leader right now. Or perhaps he just thinks that he will never be majority leader in the future and he doesn't want to be a senator if he can't be leader soon.

We have a strong chance if Brad Carson runs. He is very young and is a pretty conservative democrat, probably similar to Ben Nelson. I think that he would be a great candidate in an open race. Also AG Drew Edmonson would be a good candidate if he runs. But, those two seem like the only two that could win so if neither runs than we wouldn't have much of a chance.

[jiacinto]

3. Will Drew Edmonson run?

nt

[mndemocrat_29]

5. Edmondson has been mentioned

But Carson has basically said that if Nickles doesn't run, he will.

[jiacinto]

6. Ok

I think that Edmonson would make the better candidate, though.

[wrkclskid]

7. I here Nickels is trying to "beat up" a little on Carson

He hates Carson, so he is hopping he can draw Carson into the race by saying he may retire, then decide to run again and tanrish Carson's image, since Carson would prob drop out or hafe to run. Thoguh I have also heard he is looking into becomming commisioner of the PGA.