Rep. Carson to seek Okla. Senate seat

[pruner]

By Sarita Chourey

Rep. Brad Carson (D-Okla.) will enter the race to succeed senior Republican Sen. Don Nickles, who announced Tuesday that he won’t seek a fifth term.

Carson plans to announce his exploratory committee next week, according to a Democratic source.

Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Okla.) is also expected to run for Nickles’ seat, while Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys (R) and Attorney General Drew Edmondson (D) are possible contenders.

Nickles, 54, chairman of the Budget Committee and the former GOP whip, decided not to seek reelection even though his GOP colleagues and the White House wanted him to stay, and he was considered an odds-on favorite.

Nickles was elected to the Senate at age 31 after serving two years in the Oklahoma state Senate. He made his announcement at a news conference Tuesday at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

http://www.thehill.com/news/100803/carson.aspx

[jiacinto]

1. Carson is a good candidate

nt

[pruner]

2. good for us, good for them, or good in general?

n/t

[Cha]

3. Good for Brad Carson and the Best of Luck to him and his

Family!

[karlschneider]

4. I know Carson, he's conservative enough to be a Republican, but I guess

I'd support him if he does run. At any rate, he'd be a zillion times
better than that motherfucker Istook. (When Brad was elected I was in his district where Tom Coburn held previously, Coburn is a close friend of mine but we're on opposite sides of every isssue I can think of, but redistricting moved me out of Carson's district (2) into 1 and now my congressscritter is a loser Repug prick (Sullivan.) I guess I should be marginally grateful, there aren't many senators more repulsive than that fucking Nickles...one of course is my OTHER senator, Inhofe. He's the Tom Delay of the senate.
grr

[Catch22Dem]

5. You're right about Brad

He's a bit more conservative than I'd like, but he seems like a pretty good (and honest) guy. I was ALSO a victim of the redistricting from Carson's into Sullivan's. Sullivan is the slimiest (sp?) piece of shit I've ever seen. I really wanted to see Doug Dodd beat his ass to a pulp, but alas, Tulsa tends to be a little freeperish.

Dodd's a good man. Maybe someday.......maybe.

[jiacinto]

6. Not Lilkely to Happen

Tulsa has been Republican for decades. I read somewhere that it had been supporting Republicans for president since 1920.

[mndemocrat_29]

8. Carson is one of the best candidates Oklahoma has ever seen

He's a fantastic campaigner and will definitely be a strong challenger here. I'd put this as a tossup.

[TexasPatriot]

7. it could be worse

here in central texas, my congressman is Ron Paul - the 'get us out of the UN, the world bank is a communist conspiracy, paper money is evidence of the trilateral commission' congressman. Look at the legislation he's sponsored over the last 6 years. (try http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d108query.html and pull up Ron Paul)

oddly enough, my neighbors dont seem crazy - but I guess they must be

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

9. I hope Ernest Istook runs.

Not that I like the guy but he'll no longer be head of the House Appropriations Committee on Transportation. The guy's nothing but a whore for the asphalt and oil lobby. He eliminated federal funding for bike trails and severely limited funding for Amtrak and mass transit.

[Evanstondem]

10. Nice to have some good news tonight

I'll hope for a competitive Senate race in OK next year.