OK: Edmondson backs out of Senate race

[goobergunch]

10/23/03
By Sean Murphy
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson announced Wednesday he would not seek the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Don Nickles.

“I intend to remain as attorney general for the state of Oklahoma at least for the remainder of my term and perhaps for as long as the voters of Oklahoma allow me to do that,” the 56-year-old Democrat said during a press conference at the State Capitol.

Edmondson, who had expressed an interest in the race after Nickles announced his plans to retire two weeks ago, said he weighed the political, professional and personal implications before he made his announcement.

Edmondson said a poll he commissioned over the weekend showed he would be a formidable candidate in both a Democratic primary and a general election against Republican frontrunner Kirk Humphreys, the mayor of Oklahoma City. However, he said his commitment to his position as attorney general and his family life in Oklahoma City were determining factors.

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[spotbird]

1. Drat, drat, and drat

He would have won, Brad Carson can win also so I shouldn't complain.

[Racenut20]

2. Looks like the money was going Carson's way.

I hope they are doing like Florida Republicans, eliminating all competition before a primary so they can focus the money and attention on one candidate in November.

Bad as that is for democracy, it is what is currently working.

[Rowdyboy]

3. I'm glad. Oknancy was very adamant

in her dislike of AG Edmondson and she convinced me he would be a poor choice. Better for Carson to have a "free ride" so he can concentrate on raising money and attacking Republicans instead of other Democrats.

[OKNancy]

5. Not so much

that I dislike him, but a lot of other people dislike him. I just think Carson has a better chance.

When Carson was running in 2000, he had fundraisers held by the rich Democrats here in Tulsa, and they weren't even in his district. He's well-liked even though he's a blue-dog Dem.

[mndemocrat_29]

4. This is good

Both Edmondson and Carson can defaet Humphreys, but a unified front will be good for Democrats.

I'm betting Edmondson holds until 2008, when Inhofe will retire. Then Edmondson will probably run.

[CMT]

6. this at least will avoid a devisive primary

I think OK. could be one of our dark horse pick ups in 2004.

[jiacinto]

7. Good

We don't need a divisive primary. At least Oklahoma's Democratic Party is doing the right thing.

[yelladawg]

8. From a hawg

I live just outside Oklahoma and get the Tulsa media broadcasts. From the yellow dogs in CD 2, they aren't happy with Carson and his very conseritive voting record.

They are passing around flyers about Carson's speech to the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce:

"There is no Democrat in Congress today who more strongly supports President Bush than I."

[jiacinto]

10. And this is Oklahoma

Carson can't be like Barabara Lee or Jim McDemott.

[NewJerseyDem]

9. Another primary avoided

We escaped a primary in South Carolina and now it looks like there probably won't be one in Oklahoma. If we want to win in these red states then we can't get hurt in the internal battles that go on in some primaries and we will need all the money we can get to focus on the general election.