First Term Democratic Senator Running For Inhofeâ€™s Seat

Wednesday, September 5th 2007, 4:30 pm

By: News On 6

A democrat made it official on Wednesday; he's running against U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe. The News On 6â€™s Emory Bryan reports the 34-year-old lawmaker is practically unknown in Tulsa, but Andrew Rice says that's about to change.

Andrew Rice intends to run for the democratic nomination that would have him challenging U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe.

"I'm not real known outside Oklahoma City and Tulsa, so it's really going to be me getting out there and meeting people face to face," said U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Rice.

Rice says for months he's been meeting with Oklahoma democrats learning what they want from a U.S. Senator.

"I don't claim to have all the answers, I want to work with Oklahomans to find out what they really want from Washington," Rice said.

The incumbent, Republican Senator Jim Inhofe, was elected to the office in 1994 and is running for another six year term. Many democrats consider him to be an embarrassment to Oklahoma, for his claims that global warming isn't influenced by humans and his strong support for President Bush and the War In Iraq. Rice says he would work with Republicans in a way that Inhofe won't work with Democrats.

"I think he's so partisan and right now this country needs people to put aside their differences when they can and find some common solutions to big problems,â€ he said. â€œThe evidence is born out in his record, in the statements that he makes and the way he votes on legislation, if it's got a D by it, it's not good."

Rice has support from other elected democrats who are hoping Oklahoma is ready for a change in Washington and that Rice is the one to do the job. And Rice believes next year there will be a lot of change in Washington, he called it a generational change, and that will be enough to convince Oklahomans to replace a republican with a democrat.

Watch the video: Freshmen Senator Wants Inhofe's Seat

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9/5/2007 State Senator Running For Inhofe Seat