OK-Sooner-Poll: Inhofe (R) defeats Rice (D) by more than 40 points

[Tender Branson]

Approval ratings steady

By Staff Reports - 12/26/2007

Sooners split on Bush, generally like Henry and both senators.

Approval ratings for President Bush, U.S. Sens. James Inhofe and Tom Coburn and Gov. Brad Henry remained steady through the last nine months of 2007, according to the most recent Oklahoma Poll.

The survey of 745 likely Oklahoma voters was conducted Dec. 16-19 by SoonerPoll.com.

Inhofe's approval rating of 56 percent was essentially unchanged from April, the last time the Oklahoma Poll asked about his job performance. Inhofe appears to be well on his way to election to a third full term in November despite hopeful sounds from Democrats backing the candidacy of state Sen. Andrew Rice.

Sixty percent of those surveyed favored Inhofe over Rice, with just 19 percent going for the young Democrat and 21 percent undecided. Inhofe was the pick of three of every four Republicans surveyed and nearly half the Democrats.

Rice, meanwhile, had the support of only 28 percent of his own party.

Bush's statewide approval rating remained steady at 47 percent, divided sharply along party lines. Seventy-one percent of Republicans said they think Bush
is doing a good job, compared to only 26 percent of Democrats and 31 percent of independents.

Coburn's approval rating was at 58 percent, virtually unchanged from April's 60 percent. Like Inhofe, he remained highly popular with Republicans and approaches a 50-percent favorable rating among Democrats.

Henry's approval rating came in at 76 percent, down from 83 percent last January but about the same as April. Eighty-two percent of Democrats and 69 percent of Republicans said the second-term governor is doing a good job.

Approval ratings

Please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of the way he is doing his job?

Approve   Disapprove Don’t Know/Refused

President George Bush   47%   47%   6%
Gov. Brad Henry    76%    16%   8%
Sen. Jim Inhofe    56%    24%    20%
Sen. Tom Coburn   58%    22%    20%

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071226_1_A4_hSoon60823

[Tender Branson]

At least it´s good to see that Bush isn´t able to get a majority approval even in some of the "reddest" states ...

[Adlai Stevenson]

No way is Inhofe ahead by 40%.  He has never won more than 57% in any of his three runs for the Senate and there is absolutely no reason to expect him to now.  I doubt that Rice is as low as 19% and that almost half of the Democratic vote is going for Inhofe, either. 

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

I doubt that Rice is as low as 19% and that almost half of the Democratic vote is going for Inhofe, either. 

Gee, ya think?

Still, this poll should tell you all you need to know—this race is not competitive; this race will not be competitive.

[Sam Spade]

The Sooner Poll is not the greatest Oklahoma poll in the world, but I would seriously need to have my brain checked to trust a partisan poll from the Democratic campaign over an independent poll (that mirrors the same results it gave in March).

This is Oklahoma.  A good % of Democrats are going to vote for Inhofe anyways, probably at minimum around 25%.  Probably not 50%, but who's counting.  And when you are an total unknown, like Rice is, you start out low, very low.  The only way to go is up.

Which means, in the end, Inhofe pulls his usual 57% or whatever.  If Rice is a bad candidate, of course, that number could well go higher. 

The only Democrat who would stand a chance of beating either of Coburn or Inhofe is Henry, and it would be tough (though possible).  Would probably need a slightly favorable environment as well.

[Adlai Stevenson]

The Sooner Poll is not the greatest Oklahoma poll in the world, but I would seriously need to have my brain checked to trust a partisan poll from the Democratic campaign over an independent poll (that mirrors the same results it gave in March).

This is Oklahoma.  A good % of Democrats are going to vote for Inhofe anyways, probably at minimum around 25%.  Probably not 50%, but who's counting.  And when you are an total unknown, like Rice is, you start out low, very low.  The only way to go is up.

Which means, in the end, Inhofe pulls his usual 57% or whatever.  If Rice is a bad candidate, of course, that number could well go higher. 

The only Democrat who would stand a chance of beating either of Coburn or Inhofe is Henry, and it would be tough (though possible).  Would probably need a slightly favorable environment as well.

And what do you call this: a Republican picnic environment?

[Person Man]

Is it considered appropriate to say the word "n" in Oklahoma in polite conversation? I am getting that feeling of anguish as we speak.