The 2012 GOP Field (First Call)

Hat Tip to Dan




What the Republican field will look like in four years. Obviously, there are many variables along the way, ranging from how beatable Obama looks to the 2010 midterms; I'm just forecasting with the known knowns we have today. As usual there will probably be 10 or so candidates, but from where we sit today there look to be four slots from which to put together a credible primary campaign:

(1) The Populist Candidate: With its Washington leadership beheaded, the GOP is likely to become more of a populist and culturally conservative party in the next four years. Mike Huckabee showed this year the power and the limitations of a pure populist campaign, far exceeding expectations with nearly no resources or name recognition (although Huck was out of step with the populists on one of the major causes of grassroots frustration with DC, immigration). Against the backdrop of a tax-spend-regulate Obama Administration, a crucial challenge will be squaring populism with the GOP's need to appeal to economic and fiscal conservatives to expand out of the Huck-size niche. Realistically, the populist candidate is likely to end up as the most moderate serious candidate in the field.

As things stand today, Sarah Palin is the obvious populist candidate and, for now, the very-very-early frontrunner for the 2012 nomination, given her now-massive name recognition (the woman's every TV appearance is a ratings bonanza), amazing talents as a retail politician, appeal to the base, and the GOP tendency towards nominating the next in line.

Granted, only two candidates in the part century (Bob Dole and Franklin D. Roosevelt) have won a major party nomination after being the VP nominee for a losing ticket (not counting Mondale, who'd already been VP), those two waited 12 and 20 years before doing so, respectively, and recent history has been unkind to those who tried (Edwards 2008, Lieberman 2004 - see also Quayle 2000).

I'll expand another day on the challenges facing Gov. Palin - the short answer is that inexperience is the easiest thing in the world to fix, but she'll have to face tougher budgetary times in Alaska in light of falling oil revenues, she'll have to withstand what is likely to be an ongoing national campaign by the Democrats to take her down or hobble her re-election efforts to cut off the likeliest threat to Obama, and she'll have to develop and sell her own, independent agenda and demonstrate a greater breadth and depth of knowledge on national politics than are required from the running mate slot.

Upside in the primaries: the socially conservative, moose-hunting hockey mom could potentially be well-suited to the early GOP primary/caucus electorates in Iowa, New Hampshire and Michigan.

(2) The Establishment Candidate: The GOP by tradition tends to fall in behind whoever is the candidate of the establishment - of country clubs and boardrooms and Beltway insiders. Part of being a Republican, of course, is having the maturity to understand that being the establishment candidate is not a bad thing. But an angry grassroots is going to take some serious persuading to pick another establishment figure.

The best establishment candidate should be Jeb Bush, for a variety of reasons, but four years won't be enough - if any length of time is - to rebuild the Bush brand within the GOP, let alone the general electorate.

That leaves Mitt Romney as the logical next step; Mitt is currently out of office and thus less equipped to get more experience, but he'll have the money and energy to spend four years staking himself out as a consistent conservative voice and putting the distance of time between 2012 and the flip-flop charges of 2008.

South Dakota Senator John Thune is also sometimes mentioned, but after 1964, 1996 and now 2008, the GOP has hopefully learned its lesson about nominating legislators for President, especially sitting Senators. Newly re-elected Indiana Governor and former Bush budget director Mitch Daniels (see here and here) will have his name come up but more likely as a VP nominee.

(3) The Full-Spectrum Conservative: The Fred Thompson role from 2008 but one that will pack a lot more potential appeal in 2012.

Bobby Jindal is the best of the lot, but while he's already got an impressive resume, Jindal's so young (he's 37, which makes him the age Romney was in 1985), so he can afford to wait out several more election cycles; he's up for re-election in 2011, which makes running in 2012 very problematic; and he really and genuinely wants to stay in Louisiana long enough to make real changes in his beloved home state's legendarily corrupt and dysfunctional political culture.

The other main contender for this slot is South Carolina's Governor Mark Sanford, now in his second term as Governor after 3 in Congress. SC is the most favorable turf for a candidate of this type among the early primary states, so with Sanford running as a favorite son he could basically block out any other challengers, and if he doesn't run for re-election in 2010 (offhand I don't know whether he's term-limited), he'd have a logistical advantage over Palin, who will presumably still be in office as governor of a geographically remote state.

(4) The National Security Candidate: After four years of Obama, there's also likely to be strong sentiment for adult leadership on national security. Traditionally, the GOP has tended to prioritize this issue (in 2008, both McCain and Giuliani ran primarily as national security candidates).

But especially with Senators in disfavor, the supply of candidates with more national security credentials than a typical Governor is short - most of the Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld types in the party will be past their prime by 2012, and I continue to doubt that Condi Rice could be a viable candidate for a multitude of reasons.

The name you're likely to hear is CENTCOM commander General David Petraeus, but Gen. Petraeus - who I assume will remain on active duty for another year or two, at least, and who President Obama dare not fire - has no political experience and no known domestic-policy profile (we don't even know if he's a Republican). My guess is that if we nominate a governor in 2012, Gen. Petraeus will be much in demand as a running mate. After that, I'm not sure who will even try to fill this slot in the primaries.

Sorry, but that's the list; the no-more-McCains sentiment among the base will make it impossible for someone like Tim Pawlenty to mount a credible campaign as a moderate, nobody will bother trying to re-create the crippling damage inflicted on Rudy Giuliani from running with a record as a social liberal, and no Ron Paul type candidate (especially Ron Paul) is ever going to make a serious dent. It's those four slots or bust.

And I, for one, am definitely not committing yet to who I'll support as between Palin or a Sanford or Jindal run or maybe somebody else (obviously I'm not a Mitt fan). There's two long years ahead of us before that choice begins to arise.

Saw this on a car in
Moore, Oklahoma USA

Paul may grab more delegates

Texas congressman may grab more delegates
By Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau

Ron Paul did not win a single delegate during Oklahoma's presidential primary, but the Texas congressman's supporters have won a third of the delegates selected so far and hope to add to that tally at next month's state convention

Paul supporters have won five of the 15 national GOP delegates already selected at Oklahoma's congressional district conventions, Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said. They also won several of the 15 alternates selected at the conventions.

"They appear to be Ron Paul supporters, they haven't publicly said they are,” Jones said.

It's expected Paul's supporters will turn out to add to that count when state Republicans gather May 2-3 in Tulsa to elect 23 at-large delegates and 23 alternates to the national convention, he said.

Oklahoma will send 41 delegates to the National Republican Convention scheduled for September in Minneapolis.

Three are state GOP officials — Jones and the national committeeman and national committeewoman from Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Republican Party rules require that 15 of the state's GOP delegates be awarded to the winning candidate in the state's five congressional districts. The remainder go to whomever wins the most votes in the state.

U.S. Sen. John McCain won the most votes during Oklahoma's presidential primary Feb. 5. McCain, of Arizona, got 37 percent of the vote in Oklahoma, but collected 32 of the delegates.

He got 23 delegates for winning the state and three delegates in each of the three congressional districts he won.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who since has dropped out of the race, finished a close second with 33 percent of the vote. He won several counties and collected six delegates, three each in the two congressional districts he won.

Paul won about 3 percent of the vote and was awarded no delegates. Paul has dropped out of recent primaries, but still is continuing his bid for the Republican presidential nomination and is making speeches across the country.

Kirk Shelley, who served as Oklahoma state coordinator for Paul earlier this year, no longer is working for the campaign. A phone number for his successor no longer is in service.

Paul's backers captured two delegates in the 2nd Congressional District, two in the 5th Congressional District and on the 3rd Congressional District, Jones said. State law and state party rules bind delegates to vote for the choice of the primary voters on the first ballot at the national convention. But the laws don't require the delegates to be supporters of the candidate to whom they've been elected to represent.

Huckabee say Romney blackmail Clear Channel ?

This video was sent to me by a friend from the Tulsa, Oklahoma Huckabee event on Feb. 1, 2008, this is from the Media only part of the event

At 1:35 in to the video Huckabee say that maybe Romney ?blackmail? Clear Channel into having Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and other back Romney.

MIKE HUCKABEE TO VISIT OKLAHOMA

MIKE HUCKABEE
TO VISIT OKLAHOMA

Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee, will be campaigning in Oklahoma City and Tulsa this Friday.

Managing general partner of the Oklahoma RedHawks and former state senator, Scott Pruitt, who Chairs Oklahomans for Huckabee said there will be two public rallies for Oklahomans to get a chance to meet Gov. Huckabee.

“I can unequivocally say that Gov. Huckabee is the only candidate running for president who has a unwavering track record on sanctity of life issues, traditional values and conservative tax and fiscal policy. I encourage all Oklahomans to attend one of these two events, meet Mike Huckabee and hear what he has to say first-hand,” said Pruitt.

Former Oklahoma City mayor Kirk Humphreys, who is Huckabee’s state finance chairman said, “As governor, Huckabee cut taxes where he could and made good use of the revenues he had to improve roads and education in Arkansas. That is the kind of common sense leadership the country needs right now.”

Huckabee’s Friday, Feb. 1 schedule is as follows:
· 8:45 am to 9:45 am – Public rally at Coaches Restaurant, Bricktown
· 9:45 am to 10:15 am – Media availability, 2nd Floor West Lobby to Suites – AT&T

Bricktown Ballpark
· 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm – Tulsa rally – Tulsa International Airport
· 1:15 pm to 1:45 pm – Media Availability – Tulsa International Airport

Parking for the Oklahoma City event will be available at the RedHawks East parking lot across from Coca-Cola Event Center on Joe Carter.

Huckabee supporters will also have an opportunity to gather Huckabee campaign materials and literature for distribution prior to Tuesday’s primary election.

For more information about Mike Huckabee’s candidacy, visit www.MikeHuckabee.com

(Oklahoma) Campaigns heat up for Super Tuesday

Campaigns heat up for
Super Tuesday

By Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
Sun January 27, 2008

Any of the presidential candidates could visit Oklahoma before voters go to the polls next week, campaign coordinators and volunteer workers say.

Campaign activity in the state is expected to intensify through the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday election, when 24 states — including Oklahoma — hold primaries or caucuses.

Candidates will spend most of their time in states that have more delegates, but campaign workers said each contender considers Oklahoma important.

No visits by any of the major presidential contenders is scheduled for this week in Oklahoma, but that could change if campaign strategists or schedulers can squeeze in a stop in the Sooner State.

Democratic contender Hillary Clinton, the first candidate to air TV commercials statewide, should get a boost when her husband speaks at a campaign rally and fundraiser on the University of Oklahoma campus. Former President Clinton — and possibly their daughter, Chelsea — will appear at a campaign rally Wednesday at the Lloyd Noble Center.

A fundraiser is set for 1:15 p.m. in the Courtside Club at the Lloyd Noble Center to raise money for Clinton. .

"In addition to being the only campaign on the air with a statewide ad, we are building on our already strong organization in Oklahoma with new staff, more volunteers and a flurry of campaign activity,” said Deirde Murphy, Oklahoma campaign communications director for Clinton.

Two Republican presidential candidates stopped by Oklahoma last week. Daniel Gilbert, a North Carolina businessman, and Jerry Curry, a retired Army general from Virginia, are long shots to win the Republican nomination. Curry made his formal announcement last week in Norman and will be campaigning in the state through Tuesday.

Workers for Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama, a U.S. senator from Illinois, have set up call centers in Ardmore and Oklahoma City where supporters are making nightly calls, said Ben LaBolt, with the Obama campaign.

"We believe in a race this tight, organization matters, and neighbor-to-neighbor conversations about why Barack Obama is the candidate who will bring change we can believe in are the most persuasive of all,” LaBolt said.

While the Clinton and Obama campaigns have brought in workers from other states, the campaign of Democratic contender John Edwards is relying on Oklahoma volunteers. There is no plan to open a campaign office in Oklahoma.

Edwards has been in Oklahoma the most recently. Two weeks ago, he made two stops three days apart.

Renzi Stone, an Oklahoma campaign spokesman and volunteer for Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani, said "a group of hard-core volunteers” is working for the former New York mayor.

"Oklahoma is very important for him, especially if he can do well in Florida (Tuesday),” Stone said.

Chad Alexander, one of the grassroots coordinators for GOP presidential contender John McCain, said momentum is picking up in the state for the U.S. senator from Arizona. Volunteers are calling every night and efforts are under way to make sure McCain's supporters get out to vote, he said.

"This state is shaping up very well for John McCain,” he said.

Scott Pruitt, Oklahoma chairman for Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee, said the former Arkansas governor is doing well in Oklahoma. Rallies are scheduled across the state for Huckabee, he said.

"Super Tuesday could be a wonderful day for him, and Oklahoma's a big part of that,” Pruitt said.

Kirk Shelley, Oklahoma state coordinator for GOP presidential contender Ron Paul, said about 800 volunteers are working in Oklahoma. The campaign has a telephone center in Tulsa and a headquarters in Oklahoma City for the Texas congressman, Shelley said.

Thad Balkman, volunteer Oklahoma state coordinator for Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, said support for his candidate is growing.

"I'm getting a lot of phone calls and e-mails every day from people around the state that are watching the debates and reading the stuff on the Internet,” he said.

Gov. Henry keeps his options open

Gov. Brad Henry isn't vying to be the running mate for any of the Democratic presidential contenders. But he said he would consider the possibility if asked.

"That's crazy speculation,” he said of his being considered for vice president. "If anybody were asked to serve in a president's administration, you would have to give it serious consideration.

"I am really happy right here in Oklahoma doing what I'm doing, and I just have no desire to go to Washington, D.C.,” Henry said. "I plan to stay right here.”

Henry, who won two-thirds of the vote in his 2006 re-election, remains popular in the state and has shown that he can work with leaders from the Republican Party. The message of bipartisanship is a popular theme among most presidential candidates as the sense many voters are tired of the bickering on Capitol Hill brought about mainly by partisan politics.

Henry, who will serve as an Oklahoma delegate at the Democratic National Convention, isn't planning to endorse any Democratic presidential candidate before the Feb. 5 state primary or the Democratic National Convention in August.

"At this point, I think it's smart not to get committed to a particular candidate,” Henry said. "Ultimately, I will support the Democratic nominee for president, but it puts Oklahoma in a good position to have a little bit of influence down the line because we haven't already committed and already haven't written everybody else off.”

The governor said he is undecided.

"I don't know exactly who I'm supporting for president,” Henry said. "Ill figure that out hopefully and I will cast my vote Feb. 5.”

Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau

PEGGY NOONAN: Bush destroyed the Republican Party...

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
By PEGGY NOONAN
January 25, 2008; Page W14

We begin, as one always must now, again, with Bill Clinton. The past week he has traveled South Carolina, leaving discord in his wake. Barack Obama, that "fairytale," is low, sneaky. "He put out a hit job on me." The press is cruelly carrying Mr. Obama's counter-jabs. "You live for it."

In Dillon, S.C., according to the Associated Press, on Thursday Mr. Clinton "predicted that many voters will be guided mainly by gender and race loyalties" and suggested his wife may lose Saturday's primary because black voters will side with Mr. Obama. Who is raising race as an issue? Bill Clinton knows. It's the press, and Mr. Obama. "Shame on you," Mr. Clinton said to a CNN reporter. The same day the Web site believed to be the backdoor of the Clinton war room unveiled a new name for the senator from Illinois: "Sticky Fingers Obama."

Bill Clinton, with his trembly, red-faced rage, makes John McCain look young. His divisive and destructive daily comportment—this is a former president of the United States—is a civic embarrassment. It is also an education, and there is something heartening in this.

There are many serious and thoughtful liberals and Democrats who support Mr. Obama and John Edwards, and who are seeing Mr. Clinton in a new way and saying so. Here is William Greider in The Nation, the venerable left-liberal magazine. The Clintons are "high minded" on the surface but "smarmily duplicitous underneath, meanwhile jabbing hard at the groin area. They are a slippery pair and come as a package. The nation is at fair risk of getting them back in the White House for four years."

That, again, is from one of the premier liberal journals in the United States. It is exactly what conservatives have been saying for a decade. This may mark a certain coming together of the thoughtful on both sides. The Clintons, uniters at last.

Mr. Obama takes the pummeling and preaches the high road. It's all windup with him, like a great pitcher more comfortable preparing to throw than throwing. Something in him resists aggression. He tends to be indirect in his language, feinting, only suggestive. I used to think he was being careful not to tear the party apart, and endanger his own future.

But the Clintons are tearing the party apart. It will not be the same after this. It will not be the same after its most famous leader, and probable ultimate victor, treated a proud and accomplished black man who is a U.S. senator as if he were nothing, a mere impediment to their plans. And to do it in a way that signals, to his supporters, How dare you have the temerity, the ingratitude, after all we've done for you?

Watch for the GOP to attempt swoop in after the November elections and make profit of the wreckage.

As for the Republicans, their slow civil war continues. The primary race itself is winnowing down and clarifying: It is John McCain versus Mitt Romney, period. At the same time the conservative journalistic world is convulsed by recrimination and attack. They're throwing each other out of the party. Republicans have become very good at that. David Brooks damns Rush Limbaugh who knocks Bill Kristol who anathematizes whoever is to be anathematized this week. This Web site opposes that magazine.

The rage is due to many things. A world is ending, the old world of conservative meaning, and ascendancy. Loss leads to resentment. Different pundits back different candidates. Some opportunistically discover new virtues in candidates who appear at the moment to be winning. Some feel they cannot be fully frank about causes and effects.

More on that in a moment.

I saw Mr. McCain this Tuesday in New York, at a fund-raiser at which a breathless aide shared, "We just made a million dollars." What a difference a few wins makes. There were a hundred people outside chanting, "Mac is back!" and perhaps a thousand people inside, crammed into a three-chandelier ballroom at the St. Regis. When I attended a fund-raiser in October there was none of this; perhaps 200 came, and people were directed to crowd around the candidate as if to show he had support. Now you had to fight your way through a three-ring cluster. (When I attended a Giuliani fund-raiser this summer I saw something I wish I'd noted: The audience was big but wasn't listening. They were all on their BlackBerrys. That should have told me something about his support.)

Mr. McCain is in the middle of a shift. Previous strategy: I'm John McCain and you know me, we've traveled through history together. New strategy: I'm the old vet who fought on the front lines of the Reagan-era front, and I am about to take on the mantle of the essentials of conservatism—lower spending, smaller government, strong in the world. He is going to strike the great Reagan gong, not in a way that is new but in a way that is new for him.

In this he is repositioning himself back to where he started 30 years ago: as a Southwestern American conservative veteran of the armed forces. That is, inherently if not showily, anti-establishment. That is, I am the best of the past.

Mr. Romney, on the other hand, is running as I Am Today. I am new and fresh, in fact I'm tomorrow, I know all about the international flow of money and the flatness of the world, I know what China is, I can see you through the turbulence just as I saw Bain to success.

It will all come down to: Whom do Republicans believe? Mr. Romney in spite of his past and now-disavowed liberal positions? Or Mr. McCain in spite of his forays, the past 10 years, into a kind of establishment mindset that has suggested that The Establishment Knows Best?

Do conservatives take inspiration from Mr. Romney's newness? Or do they take comfort and security from Mr. McCain's rugged ability to endure, and to remind?

It is along those lines the big decision will be made.

On the pundit civil wars, Rush Limbaugh declared on the radio this week, "I'm here to tell you, if either of these two guys [Mr. McCain or Mike Huckabee] get the nomination, it's going to destroy the Republican Party. It's going to change it forever, be the end of it!"

This is absurd. George W. Bush destroyed the Republican Party, by which I mean he sundered it, broke its constituent pieces apart and set them against each other. He did this on spending, the size of government, war, the ability to prosecute war, immigration and other issues.

Were there other causes? Yes, of course. But there was an immediate and essential cause.

And this needs saying, because if you don't know what broke the elephant you can't put it together again. The party cannot re-find itself if it can't trace back the moment at which it became lost. It cannot heal an illness whose origin is kept obscure.

I believe that some of the ferocity of the pundit wars is due to a certain amount of self-censorship. It's not in human nature to enjoy self-censorship. The truth will out, like steam from a kettle. It hurts to say something you supported didn't work. I would know. But I would say of these men (why, in the continuing age of Bill Clinton, does the emoting come from the men?) who are fighting one another as they resist naming the cause for the fight: Sack up, get serious, define. That's the way to help.

Free meals top lobbyist gifts to Oklahoma lawmakers

Free meals top lobbyist gifts to
Oklahoma lawmakers

1/23/2008

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Free meals made up the biggest share of gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers, according to reports filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission for the last six months of 2007.

They ranged in price from $6 breakfasts to $210 dinners. Other gifts included tickets to college and professional football games and to the PGA Championship last summer in Tulsa.

Lobbyist Bill Case, a former legislator, spent $142.77 on transportation and snacks on each of seven Republican House lawmakers to take them to a fundraiser for GOP presidential contender Mike Huckabee in December at the Dallas home of businessman Gene Phillips. Phillips allegedly bribed Carroll Fisher when Fisher was Oklahoma’s Insurance Commissioner.

Those going on the Dec. 18 trip are listed as House Speaker Lance Cargill of Harrah and Reps. Gus Blackwell of Goodwell, Mike Jackson of Enid, Charles Key of Oklahoma City, Ron Peterson of Broken Arrow, Colby Schwartz of Yukon and T.W. Shannon of Lawton.

Among other gifts:

-- Several legislators received centennial polo shirts valued at $26 each from a lobbyist representing the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association.















Sen. Brian Crain of Tulsa received
a ticket valued at $130 to watch the
Dallas Cowboys play the Washington
Redskins on Nov. 18 in Dallas. He
also received $67 in food and
beverages. Electronic Data Systems
Corp. paid for everything.

-- Sens. Brian Crain of Tulsa, Mike Mazzei of Tulsa and Todd Lamb of Edmond, all Republicans, each received a ticket valued at $130 to watch the Dallas Cowboys play the Washington Redskins on Nov. 18 in Dallas. Each also received $67 in food and beverages; Electronic Data Systems Corp. paid for the tickets and food.

-- The University of Oklahoma gave season tickets valued at $300 each to Sooner football games to 93 of the state’s 149 legislators. Attorney General Drew Edmondson also received a season ticket, records show.

-- Oklahoma State University gave season tickets valued at $288 each to 84 legislators, reports show.

Lobbyists had a 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline for filing reports for gifts to Oklahoma’s elected officials.

About 265 of the state’s 389 registered lobbyists had filed reports with the Ethics Commission by the deadline.

Lobbyists have to disclose gifts after spending more than $50 on a state official or aide during each six-month period. The limit a lobbyist can spend on an elected official is $300 per year.

Cargill defends fundraiser, predicts GOP win

Cargill defends fundraiser,
predicts GOP win
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
1/19/2008

Oklahoma House Speaker Lance Cargill on Friday defended his appearance at a controversial Mike Huckabee fundraiser and predicted a GOP sweep of Oklahoma's 77 counties in this year's presidential election.

"As opposed to a very popular Democrat governor (Brad Henry) at the top of the ticket, as we had in '06, in '08 we're going to have Hillary Clinton or (Barack) Obama, who will lose every single county in this state," Cargill told a Tulsa County Republican Men's Club meeting at the Summit Club.

"They will lose every single county, I'll make that prediction right now. So that will be very good for all Republicans up and down the ballot."

Responding to a question from the audience, Cargill dismissed criticism of a trip to Dallas he and five other GOP legislators took in December for a Mike Huckabee fundraiser at the home of businessman Gene Phillips.

Phillips is embroiled in the scandal that led to the corruption conviction of former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher. Phillips is also accused of trying to influence legislation related to his family's insurance business.

Earlier, Cargill said he didn't know the fundraiser was connected to Phillips until he and his party arrived. On Friday, he seemed to mod ify that position slightly, saying he didn't know where the event was at the time he received the invitation but "subsequent to that, I did learn that it was at the home of Gene Phillips."

Cargill reiterated that a number of prominent people were at the fundraiser.

"The notion that we set foot in the fellow's house and that we are now corrupted by that is wholly inaccurate -- wholly inaccurate."

Cargill concluded by pointing out that an Oklahoma Democratic Party fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday at an Oklahoma City law office is co-hosted by former Gov. David Walters.

In 1993, Walters pleaded guilty to one count of accepting an illegal campaign contribution.

Cargill touted Republican accomplishments in state government over the past three years, especially in the areas of highway and education funding and tax cuts.

Responding to a question from Tulsa City Councilor Cason Carter, however, Cargill offered little immediate relief for Oklahoma municipalities struggling to maintain streets. He said an Oklahoma Municipal League proposal to return a portion of state sales tax receipts for local use "will be difficult in this budget year."

The Tulsa City Council has endorsed the proposal.

Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com

GOP lawmakers return contributions

GOP lawmakers return contributions
By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau
1/17/2008

The money came from the son of a
controversial insurance firm owner.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Three Republican lawmakers confirmed Wednesday that they will be returning unsolicited campaign contributions from Bradford Phillips, the son of controversial Texas insurance company owner Gene Phillips.

Rep. Jeff Hickman, R-Dacoma, and Rep. Earl Sears, R-Bartlesville, both said they received checks for $600, and Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee, received $645. The contributions came in late De cember.

The three are members of a House committee that approved legislation favorable to the Phillips family last spring.

Faught said that when he learned about the controversy surrounding the Phillips family, he decided to return the check. Sears, who had cashed the check, took $600 out of his campaign Tuesday and sent it to Phillips. Hickman said he was mailing the check back Wednesday.

"I returned the contribution; I just felt uncomfortable," Faught said.

House Speaker Lance Cargill and six other Republican lawmakers have confirmed that they recently attended a fundraiser for presidential candidate Mike Huckabee in the Dallas home of Gene Phil lips, who has been linked to former state insurance commissioner Carroll Fisher, who is now in prison.

The speaker and lawmakers have said they either did not realize where the fundraiser was being held or who Gene Phillips was.

Cargill said the fundraiser gave him an opportunity to talk with Huckabee.

Fisher, who is serving a three-year prison term for embezzling money from his campaign, also is accused of accepting $25,000 and other gifts from Phillips, his family and business associates in exchange for favorable treatment of their insurance companies.

Last spring, Bradford Phillips tried but failed to get legislation passed that would have lowered the amount of assets that insurance companies have to show before being allowed to do certain business in Oklahoma.

The legislation contained a key amendment sponsored by Rep. Greg Piatt, the speaker's House majority leader. Piatt, R-Ardmore, received a $5,000 contribution in June from Bradford Phillips, state Ethics Commission records show.

Sears recalled Wednesday that when the legislation was pending last spring, Bradford Phillips took the members of the House Economic Development and Financial Services Committee to dinner at The Ranch Steakhouse in Oklahoma City. Campaign contributions of as much as $5,000 and dinners bought by lawmakers are not illegal if they are reported.

Faught is vice chairman of the committee. Hickman and Sears are members.

Faught said that when the contribution came in, he didn't connect that Bradford Phillips was the one who had sought legislation benefiting his family's insurance companies.

"I prefer to get contributions locally," he said.

Hickman said Wednesday that although he was chair man of the Insurance and Retirement Subcommittee, the legislation that Phillips wanted had bypassed his subcommittee and went directly to the committee led by Rep. Ron Peterson, R-Tulsa.

Representatives who attended the Dallas fundraiser besides the speaker included Peterson; Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell; Mike Jackson, R- Enid; Rob Johnson, R-Kingfisher; Colby Schwartz, R-Yukon; and T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton.

Former lawmaker Bill Case, who is now a lobbyist, said this week that he rented a bus and took the lawmakers to the Dallas function.

Case, who ran unsuccessfully for insurance commissioner, is a lobbyist partner with Bobby Stem, who represented Phillips at the Capitol in trying to get the legislation passed.

Stopped in the hall at the Capitol, Case said taking the lawmakers to the fundraiser was "very innocent."

"Then all of a sudden it is a media frenzy," he said.

Mick Hinton (405) 528-2465
mick.hinton@tulsaworld.com

RED FACE GOP Legislators Return Campaign Contributions

Three Republican lawmakers confirmed Wednesday that they will be returning unsolicited campaign contributions from Bradford Phillips, the son of controversial Texas insurance company owner Gene Phillips.

The AP reports
Rep Jeff Hickman and















Earl Sears and









George Faught

are returning $600 donations given by Bradford Phillips, son of Dallas real estate developer Eugene Phillips. Representative George Faught is returning $645 to the younger Phillips.


For More Info Click Here
and here

Open Letter to SC Attorney General Henry McMaster

Open Letter to SC Attorney
General Henry McMaster

January 15, 2008

Earlier this evening, at approximately 8:50 PM on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, I received a telephone call from telephone number 703-961-1077 with the Caller ID of “Hinton, L”. Answering the phone, I was asked if I would participate in a 45 second poll on the presidential primary. After being asked if I supported President Bush and was planning to vote in the South Carolina Primary, I was asked whom I planned to support. I responded Fred Thompson. I was immediately thrown into a series of questions asking my position on illegal immigration, abortion, and others. Each question went as follows: “Are you pro-life” My answer “Yes”. Their response: “Did you know that Senator Fred Thompson [contradicting pro-life stance], and that Governor Mike Huckabee has [supporting pro-life stance]. After answering two of the questions, I took out my tape recorder and recorded the rest of the conversation.

Being acutely aware of push polling tactics and negative campaigning, I answered some of the questions based on the responses that would illicit a negative response from the caller. I have attached a copy of the voice recording of the second half of the auto call (unfortunately the really good nasty stuff was during the first half of the call), as well as photos of the caller ID displaying the callers name, telephone number, and time of call.

It is my request that you pursue these individuals to the fullest extent of the law. You may reach me at the contact information listed above.

Sincerely,
Alan M. Teitleman

Phone: 843-634-3513 Fax: 704-625-0945 119 N. McGregor Ave Ruby, SC 29741 Alan@Alan08.com

Huck push polling in SC

Huck push polling in SC
By Kenny from SC

"I received a call earlier tonight that appeared to be a poll.The first question asked was if I would be voting in the primary Jan 19th. They then named a list of all top tier Republican candidates and asked if I would be voting for one of them. Next each candidate was called out and when I responded that I would be voting for Fred, I was told of how he lobbied for pro-abortion groups and Huckabee was the only true pro-life candidate. I tried to call the number back and guess what?It has been disconnected"

Pro-Huckabee
Push Polling Starts in SC
Tue, Jan. 15, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Automated phone polls disparaging rivals of Republican White House hopeful Mike Huckabee started across this early voting state Tuesday evening and the head of the group making them said that more than 1 million will be made in a three-day span.

Huckabee's campaign quickly disavowed the push polling. "We know nothing about that and don't condone it. Anyone who is doing that in an effort to help us needs to stop. This does not reflect the positive spirit of the campaign," said spokeswoman Alice Stewart.

The calls were expected. In December, Colorado-based Common Sense Issues promised to make 1 million phone calls in South Carolina supporting Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor who repeatedly has distanced himself from the group.

Common Sense executive director Patrick Davis said Tuesday night that the calls started about 5 p.m. from a call center in Virginia and should be completed sometime Thursday.

The Republican primary here is Saturday.

Among the people receiving the push polling calls was a county co-chairman of former Sen. Fred Thompson's campaign.

Jason Goings, the Aiken County co-chairman for Thompson, said the call he received started by asking him if he was a Republican who planned to vote in Saturday's primary and then asked whom he supported. After he hit the button for Thompson, a voice highlighted Huckabee's position against abortion and said Thompson worked as a lawyer for a lobbying firm that protected abortion rights.

The call also attacked Thompson, a former Tennessee senator and actor, on same-sex marriage, illegal immigration and taxes.

Goings said he has received a half-dozen calls in the past two days from other campaigns. But he said this was the first profoundly negative call he has received about the election.

"I've never had a nasty one, and that one was nasty one," Goings said.

Davis said Common Sense Issues is not affiliated with Huckabee and does not coordinate with his campaign. He said his group backs the former governor because of his views on issues including a strong defense and cutting taxes.

"The folks who have been critical of our phone calls generally are supporting Mike Huckabee's opponents. They criticize the fact that the calls are happening, but there has not been criticism of the fact that the information we provide is factual," he said.

South Carolina law prohibits automated calls for political purposes with a penalty of 30 days in jail and a $200 fine for each violation, but such calls are commonplace.

Common Sense Issues has defended the calls as free speech and said they are protected under federal law.

Gary Jones and Legislators scrutinized over event

Legislators scrutinized over event

By Nolan Clay and Randy Ellis
Staff Writers
Sun January 13, 2008

House Speaker Lance Cargill and six other state Republican legislators attended a Mike Huckabee fundraiser in December at the Dallas home of a businessman who allegedly bribed Oklahoma's then-insurance commissioner, The Oklahoman has learned.

Cargill and some representatives confirmed that they accepted a bus ride to the fundraiser from lobbyist Bill Case, a former state representative with ties to the businessman.

Another representative and State Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said they traveled to Dallas for the fundraiser on their own.

About 300 guests went to the Dec. 18 fundraiser at the Dallas poolhouse of Gene and Roxanne Phillips. Huckabee, a Republican, is running for president and is the former governor of Arkansas.

Gene Phillips did not pay for the legislators' bus ride, said his attorney, Stephen Jones.

The trip has generated some criticism in political circles. House Minority Leader Danny Morgan, D-Prague, said residents of Oklahoma should be concerned the House speaker "would allow himself and his members to be courted by a man alleged to be involved in the demise of former Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher.”

Fisher, 67, faces a bribery trial in May. The former insurance commissioner is accused in a felony charge of illegally receiving money, gifts and gratuities from "Phillips, his family and business associates” after he was first elected to office in November 1998.

Among the alleged bribes was a $25,000 check made out to Fisher in December 1998. Fisher called the money a loan.

The state House in 2004 voted to impeach Fisher in part for accepting about $20,000 in furnishings and furniture from "the Gene Phillips Group” for his state office. Fisher quit rather than face an ouster trial in the Senate and is now in prison, convicted of embezzling campaign funds.

No charges for Phillips
Phillips was questioned by investigators working for Oklahoma's attorney general. He has never been charged with bribing Fisher. Phillips denies wrongdoing.

Cargill and others said they didn't pay attention to who was hosting the fundraiser when they decided to go. Cargill said he was invited by Case.

"I didn't know where it was going to be,” Cargill said. "I was invited to the event and so went down there and it was at Mr. Phillips' home. ... I said, ‘Hi,' to Mr. Phillips and that was pretty much that. We were there to see the governor (Huckabee) and talk to him and we had that opportunity.”

Asked whether he would have gone had he known beforehand that the fundraiser was at Phillips' home, Cargill said, "I went there to meet the governor, not to talk to anybody else.”

(COME ON ANYBODY BUYING THIS LINE)

Most of the legislators and Gary Jones said they were not aware of the accusations surrounding Fisher and Phillips or did not remember them.

(COME ON ANYBODY BUYING THIS LINE)

"I certainly wasn't aware of where it was being held. That was never made an issue. I imagine most of the guys don't really even know who Gene Phillips is. If it's not some current event, it's hard to keep track of who people are,” Rep. Ron Peterson said. "That was a little bit old news, I guess. It's hard to keep everybody in your head all the time.”

(COME ON ANYBODY BUYING THIS LINE)

Who made the trip?
Traveling in the small bus to the fundraiser were Case, Cargill, Peterson, Rep. Gus Blackwell, Rep. Mike Jackson, Rep. T.W. Shannon, Rep. Colby Schwartz and former state Sen. Scott Pruitt, who shortly afterward became Huckabee's chairman in Oklahoma.

Also at the fundraiser were Rep. Rob Johnson, Gary Jones, lobbyist Bobby Stem and Enid attorney Stephen Jones.

Blackwell said Case and Stephen Jones organized the trip.

Case and Stem work as lobbyists at a firm called Capitol Gains. Stem lobbies for American Reserve Life Insurance Co. where Phillips' son is a top executive.

The House members told The Oklahoman they did not contribute to the Huckabee campaign at the fundraiser. They said they were impressed by Huckabee.

"I thought he was pretty impressive, an extremely nice guy. He gave a very uplifting speech and a very heartfelt speech,” Jackson said. "He's a genuine person.”

The Washington Post has pointed to the fundraiser at Phillips' home as an example of how Huckabee aides have had little time to research the backgrounds of his new supporters. The Post noted Huckabee did not know until told by a news reporter that Phillips had been fined $850,000 by the Securities and Exchange Commission and once faced a federal bribery indictment. Phillips was acquitted in the criminal case at trial.

Huckabee's state chairman, Pruitt, said he has not been made aware of any criticism of Huckabee involving the December fundraiser.

"There was a tremendous diversity of people there,” he said.

Phillips' attorney, Stephen Jones, said, "He's a voter. He's a citizen. I don't know of anything that excludes him from hosting politicians who want to come to his house. ... What's the guy done that's wrong? You can't measure by some subjective standard.”

Stephen Jones, who is politically active and on the state Republican finance committee, said he did not pay to bus the legislators or arrange for it.

The attorney confirmed he was listed as one of the hosts on invitations and said the event raised about $300,000.

The attorney called the bribery charge against Fisher "garbage” and said if state prosecutors had any evidence against Phillips, they would have indicted him.

"They didn't,” he said.

Case did not return phone calls for this story.

Oklahoman doing story on Phillips fundraiser

Reporters Nolan Clay and Randy Ellis of The Sunday Oklahoman has a lengthy article about the Mike Huckabee fundraiser at the Dallas home of controversial businessman Gene Phillips that was attended by numerous Oklahoma Republican legislators, including House Speaker Lance Cargill.

They will list all those from Oklahoma who attended and have statements from most of them.

Cargill told the reporters he was invited to the event by a lobbyist for insurance companies controlled by Phillips and his son, Brad, former State Rep. Bill Case, unsuccessful candidate for insurance commissioner in 2006. Cargill said he didn't know the event was being held at Phillips' home.

Hat Tip to Mike @ The McCarville Report Online

(Phillips figured in the controversial end of Democrat Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher's term in office. Fisher left office after questions were raised about his acceptance of office furnishings from Phillips and his associates. Phillips was interviewed twice by investigators from the attorney general's office, the grand jury's legal adviser, and Phillips' business associates were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury. One associate appeared before the grand jury twice. Stephen Jones, Phillips' Enid attorney, was successful in fighting efforts to force to appear.)

For more background click here

Ok GOP House members attend a fundraiser at the home of a scandal-linked businessman

Huckabee gathering is raising hackles
By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau
1/12/2008

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Several Republican House members, including Speaker Lance Cargill, attended a fundraiser recently in the home of Texas businessman Gene Phillips, who has been linked to convicted former insurance commissioner Carroll Fisher.

Phillips was hosting the fundraiser for Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee.

Fisher is serving a three-year prison sentence for embezzling $1,000 from his campaign and lying on a contributions report.

He also is accused of accepting $25,000 and other gifts from Phillips, his family and business associates in exchange for favorable treatment of their insurance companies.

Fisher has said the money was a loan.

Cargill said Friday that he went to the fundraiser at the invitation of a former colleague.

"I was not informed where the event was," he said. "As it turns out, it was at his (Phillips') home."

Cargill said he looked at the event as a chance to visit "with the person who has a legitimate chance to be president of the United States."

Rep. Danny Morgan, who leads the House Democrats, said Friday, "When I heard this, I was floored.

"It looks very suspect that the speaker would allow himself and members of his caucus to be involved in a fundraiser with an individual allegedly involved with Commissioner Fisher," Morgan, D-Prague, said.

Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, said Friday that "it never clicked" in his mind when he and others went to Phillips' home Dec. 18 to attend the fundraiser.

Other Republican lawmakers who attended were Reps. T.W. Shannon of Lawton and Mike Jackson of Enid. Three other GOP lawmakers reportedly were at the fundraiser.

Phillips' son Bradford Phillips tried unsuccessfully last session to get an Oklahoma law changed that would have allowed the family's insurance companies to put up fewer assets when making real estate loans.

State Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland strongly protested the change, which was approved in committee but did not make it into law.

The amendment was carried by House Majority Leader Greg Piatt, R-Ardmore, who received a $5,000 contribution from Bradford Phillips in June, state Ethics Commission records show.

Holland noted that Gene Phillips was linked to an anonymous Web site that showed up during her 2006 election bid. Although it did not name Holland, the Internet campaign ad featured a silhouette of her.

"Yes, he (Phillips) was linked to the Web site and he was the gentleman linked to one or more indictments against the former commissioner," Holland said at the time.

Meanwhile, Shannon said Friday that he went to the fundraiser not knowing that questions had been raised about Phillips.

"I learned all of this after the fundraiser," he said. "It was just a chance to get to see Mike Huckabee."

Stephen Jones of Enid, who has been Gene Phillips' attorney, was one of the co-sponsors of the event.

Regarding the Oklahoma lawmakers' attendance, Jones said: "I saw some of those boys. They were all Huckabee supporters."

Jones estimated that 250 to 300 people were at the fundraiser, held at Phillips' pool house. Other reports put attendance at 100 to 150.

"Phillips has a beautiful home, and he knows how to entertain," Jones said, noting that many functions are held there, although not usually political ones.

"There's nothing wrong with it," he said.

Mick Hinton (405) 528-2465
mick.hinton@tulsaworld.com


(Phillips figured in the controversial end of Democrat Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher's term in office. Fisher left office after questions were raised about his acceptance of office furnishings from Phillips and his associates. Phillips was interviewed twice by investigators from the attorney general's office, the grand jury's legal adviser, and Phillips' business associates were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury. One associate appeared before the grand jury twice. Stephen Jones, Phillips' Enid attorney, was successful in fighting efforts to force http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifPhillips to appear.)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Coming: More On Cargill/Jones going to The Phillips-Huckabee Event

Hat Tip to Mike @ The McCarville Report Online

The Dallas fundraiser in December for Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee at the home of controversial businessman Gene Phillips attracted numerous Oklahoma Republicans, including House Speaker Lance Cargill and Oklahoma State GOP Party Chair Gary Jones, and now that event is attracting considerable media attention in Oklahoma City and Dallas. Phillips and his son, Brad, had an interest in Oklahoma legislation in the 2007 session that reportedly would benefit insurance companies they control.

(Phillips figured in the controversial end of Democrat Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher's term in office. Fisher left office after questions were raised about his acceptance of office furnishings from Phillips and his associates. Phillips was interviewed twice by investigators from the attorney general's office, the grand jury's legal adviser, and Phillips' business associates were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury. One associate appeared before the grand jury twice. Stephen Jones, Phillips' Enid attorney, was successful in fighting efforts to force Phillips to appear.)

Muskogee County GOP hear presidential reps

County GOP hear presidential reps
By Cathy Spaulding
Phoenix Staff Writer
Published January 11, 2008

Muskogee County Republicans wanting to strengthen America’s borders, empower the states and get rid of the Internal Revenue Service heard about presidential candidates who want most of those same things at their monthly meeting Thursday.

Representatives for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Texas Congressman Ron Paul and former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson promoted their candidates’ position before about 50 GOP supporters at Jasper’s Restaurant. Absent were representatives for U.S. Sen. John McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Speaking for Huckabee, former state Sen. Scott Pruitt got the most rounds of applause from those in the room.

“Mike’s not for reducing the tax code but eliminating the tax code,” Pruitt said. “Huckabee said we don’t need a tax on production, we need a tax on consumption. We need to get rid of the imbedded costs of production. He’d like to see a ‘vacancy’ sign at the IRS.”

Huckabee also supports modernizing the efforts to curb illegal immigration and for making borders more secure, he said.

“He was the only candidate talking about illegals going back and starting over” and coming into the United States legally, Pruitt said.

Sharon Caliendo, a Norman political consultant speaking for Giuliani, reminded Republicans that the United States has “two borders to secure.”

“The northern border is the more dangerous because Canadian immigration policies are so open,” she said, adding that Giuliani proposes Border Patrol outposts every 50 miles along the borders.

Giuliani, who was mayor when terrorists hit the World Trade Center in 2001, feels national security is a big issue, Caliendo said. “But so is border security.”

State Rep. Charles Key said Ron Paul wants to shrink the federal government, eliminate the Internal Revenue Service and return power to the states.

“Paul is against income tax,” Key said. “Our problems stem from being so used to big government.”

Paul also opposes American involvement in Iraq, but supports efforts in Afghanistan, Key said.

“The war alone will bankrupt us if we continue on the path we’re on,” he said. “It is costing us $3.5 trillion.”

Several in the audience challenged Paul’s opposition to involvement with Iraq.

“If we just bring them home, who is going to fight the war on terror?” asked Tom Tinnin of Fort Gibson. “The Islamic world wants to kill us.”

Oklahoma Legislators Attended Gene Phillips' Fundraiser For Republican Mike Huckabee Part 3

After posting part 2, last night Okie Campaigns receive two phone calls and 1 email from GOP member of the House, adding more to the background of the story.

Oklahoma State Republican Chair Gary Jones, also went to the December 18, 2007, Huckabee fundraiser, held at the 13-acre Dallas estate of Gene and Roxanne Phillips.
See 'When will Oklahoma State
GOP Chair Gary Jones
jump the Shark'

And Speaker Lance Cargill, was also ID in the pictures of the Dec 18, event.


First a Big Think You and Hat Tip to Mike @ The McCarville Report Online for Breaking this story. For part one of this story click here

For part two, click here

(Phillips figured in the controversial end of Democrat Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher's term in office. Fisher left office after questions were raised about his acceptance of office furnishings from Phillips and his associates. Phillips was interviewed twice by investigators from the attorney general's office, the grand jury's legal adviser, and Phillips' business associates were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury. One associate appeared before the grand jury twice. Stephen Jones, Phillips' Enid attorney, was successful in fighting efforts to force Phillips to appear.)

Ok Legislators Attended Gene Phillips' Fundraiser For Republican Mike Huckabee Part 2

Oklahoma Legislators Attended
Gene Phillips' Fundraiser
For Republican Mike Huckabee Part 2

First a Big Think You and Hat Tip to Mike @ The McCarville Report Online for Breaking this story. For the start of this story click here

On December 18, 2007, A fundraiser was held at the 13-acre Dallas estate of Gene and Roxanne Phillips.

(Phillips figured in the controversial end of Democrat Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher's term in office. Fisher left office after questions were raised about his acceptance of office furnishings from Phillips and his associates. Phillips was interviewed twice by investigators from the attorney general's office, the grand jury's legal adviser, and Phillips' business associates were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury. One associate appeared before the grand jury twice. Stephen Jones, Phillips' Enid attorney, was successful in fighting efforts to force Phillips to appear.)

From The McCarville Report Online:

Those in attendance included Irving Mayor Herbert Gears and several members of the Oklahoma Legislature

After making many phone calls tonight, Okie Campaigns, has learned that Stephen Jones and 2007 GOP Insurance Commissioner Candidate Bill Case, arranged for the Oklahoma GOP House members to go the Dec. 18, Huckabee event at the Phillips 13-acre Dallas estate.

We also have a pictures of the Dec 18, event. One can clearly see Speaker Pro Tempore Gus Blackwell, Assistant Majority Floor Leader Mike Jackson, and Assistant Majority Whip T. W. Shannon in it.

KWTV-TV Presidential Race Poll results

Oklahoma presidential
race poll results

NEWS 9 took a phone poll of likely voters registered to vote in the State of Oklahoma.

The margin of error is ±2.24%.



1. If the Democratic Presidential primary in your state was held today, and you were standing in the voting booth and had to choose, for whom would you vote?


2. If the Republican Presidential primary in your state was held today, and you were standing in the voting booth and had to choose, for whom would you vote?


3. In a presidential race between former Gov. Mike Huckabee and Sen. Hillary Clinton, for whom would you vote?


4. In a presidential race between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Hillary Clinton, for whom would you vote?


5. In a presidential race between Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama, for whom would you vote?


6. In a presidential race between former Gov. Mike Huckabee and Sen. Barack Obama, for whom would you vote?


7. I would consider voting for an independent party candidate for president.






Poll conducted by NEWS 9 and TVPoll.com