How would Brad Henry do against Jim Inholfe?

[retromike22]

I think Henry's the best the Democrats can do in Oklahoma.

[Where's the Epstein Client List?]

Badly. Despite the fact that a plurality of Oklahomans still insist on calling themselves Democrats.

[You Don’t Mess With The Zohran]

Would go down. Maybe if he ran he could force Inhofe into retirement though, and I dunno if Oklahoma has such a great Republican bench.

[Maxwell]

Would go down. Maybe if he ran he could force Inhofe into retirement though, and I dunno if Oklahoma has such a great Republican bench.

Oklahoma's Republican bench may not be great in a normal state, but its good enough for here, and its plenty deep: Every house rep and the Governor at least would want to go for the Senate seat, along with a couple of former house reps.

Henry would do better if the Republican managed to nominate someone that would out-rage the base enough to get a very conservative, very successful third party, and vote splitting would cause Henry to win.

Also, if Obama isn't the President, Henry does immediately better.

[Nichlemn]

My guess is that a few polls would show Henry without striking distance, causing some Democrats investment in the race, but in the end barring something unusual happening he does no better than a 10 point loss. See: HI-SEN, NE-SEN in 2012.

[Maxwell]

My guess is that a few polls would show Henry without striking distance, causing some Democrats investment in the race, but in the end barring something unusual happening he does no better than a 10 point loss. See: HI-SEN, NE-SEN in 2012.

I could see him getting within the 10 point range, but ultimately time has passed for a non-uber conservative Democrat to win in Oklahoma. Then again, he won the Governors seat in a complete upset, but managed to endear himself with Oklahomans and won re-election against a well known congressman in the state 2-1. It's very possible that he could make a turn-around campaign again, just not against Inhofe.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Inhofe tends to underperform. But with Obama still president, I don't see Henry getting more than 45% or so.

[minionofmidas]

Could he run for Governor again? That ought to be much more winnable for a Democrat still.

[Maxwell]

Could he run for Governor again? That ought to be much more winnable for a Democrat still.

Term-limited. He could not.

There are only two other democrats that could even make a run of it above 40%: Boren, and possibly former Mayor of Tulsa and Secretary of State Susan Savage.

[Sic Semper Fascistis]

Probably as well as Linda Lingle.

[Maxwell]

He would get crushed. The last Democratic Presidential nominee to win even a single county in this state was Gore in 2000. As popular as Henry was as Governor, the Oklahoma Democratic Party is in shambles now. The D label has become poison here.

In regards to the GOP bench...it's solid. Two top names coming to mind (if Inhofe retires) are Rep. James Lankford and former State Senator Randy Brogdon, who waged a nearly successful primary against Mary Fallin in the 2010 Gubernatorial contest.

This is the current state of the OK GOP:
US Senate Seats: 2/2
US House Seats: 5/5
Statewide Offices: 11/11
OK Senate Seats: 36/48
OK House Seats: 72/101

(it wouldn't let me just post the pic)

I know my avatar is from Massachussets, but welcome fellow Oklahoman! While I agree with the basic premise, I think Lankford is working on climbing GOP leadership in the House. It would be someone who is hopeless to GOP leadership but has a lot of publicity like Bridenstine.

[RodPresident]

Henry would get at least a Bob Kerrey performance against Fischer but not enough to win. Maybe with a President Warner, Clinton or Schweitzer, he would electable.

[Joe Biden 2020]

He would get crushed. The last Democratic Presidential nominee to win even a single county in this state was Gore in 2000. As popular as Henry was as Governor, the Oklahoma Democratic Party is in shambles now. The D label has become poison here.

In regards to the GOP bench...it's solid. Two top names coming to mind (if Inhofe retires) are Rep. James Lankford and former State Senator Randy Brogdon, who waged a nearly successful primary against Mary Fallin in the 2010 Gubernatorial contest.

This is the current state of the OK GOP:
US Senate Seats: 2/2
US House Seats: 5/5
Statewide Offices: 11/11
OK Senate Seats: 36/48
OK House Seats: 72/101

(it wouldn't let me just post the pic)

I know my avatar is from Massachussets, but welcome fellow Oklahoman! While I agree with the basic premise, I think Lankford is working on climbing GOP leadership in the House. It would be someone who is hopeless to GOP leadership but has a lot of publicity like Bridenstine.

Yes, indeed, it is refreshing to see more Okies on the forum.  I, as everyone knows, am an Okie, having just moved to Utah last September.

Brad Henry would do well, perhaps falling just short, in a non-Obama administration.

I think the Democratic bench will come back when Obama is no longer in office.  Its not that the D label is toxic in Oklahoma, its more that Obama makes the D label toxic.  Without Obama, the D label is just less flavorable than the R label, but not toxic.

[sg0508]

It would be far more difficult for him to win a Senate seat.  He would need a split in the GOP vote between someone VERY extreme (Inhofe is up there) and a more moderate candidate taking about 10% or so.  Then, he may just have a chance.  The Kansas GOP has experienced this a few times, but more so in Gubernatorial races rather than in Senatorial campaigns.

[CountryRoads]

Inhofe tends to underperform. But with Obama still president, I don't see Henry getting more than 45% or so.

^

[Stranger in a strange land]

In a Midterm with an unpopular Republican president in office, Henry might have a shot. In other words, not in 2014.