Presidential Candidates File For Oklahoma Ballot

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Representatives of Republicans John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Democrat Barack Obama were among five presidential contenders to file paperwork early Monday for Oklahoma's February

Monday, December 3rd 2007, 9:48 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Representatives of Republicans John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and Democrat Barack Obama were among five presidential contenders to file paperwork early Monday for Oklahoma's February 5 primary election. All of the major candidates for the Democratic and Republican nominations are expected to have their names entered for the Oklahoma election before the three-day filing period ends at 5 p.m Wednesday.

Representatives of McCain and Obama, both U.S. senators, filed their paperwork shortly after the filing period opened at 8 a.m. Filing next were representatives of U.S. Reps. Duncan Hunter of California, Tom Tancredo of Colorado and Ron Paul of Texas.

Representatives of Giuliani, the former New York mayor and federal prosecutor, paid the $2,500 filing fee shortly before noon.

Terry Neese, Giuliani's state finance chairman, said the filing was delayed because state law requires a cashiers check and she had to get one to replace the check sent in by the national campaign.

Neese and Leonard Sullivan, Oklahoma County assessor and Giuliani supporter, predicted Giuliani would win in conservative Oklahoma, despite his pro-choice stand on abortion and his past support for gun control laws in New York.

Sullivan said Giuliani is the only GOP candidate who can win against the Democratic nominee. He also said Giuliani is the best candidate to prosecute the war on terror, adding that unless the United States wins the Iraq war ``all of these other social issues are totally insignificant.''

Oklahoma is among 23 states, including California, that will hold presidential primaries or caucuses on Feb. 5, according to Mike Clingman, Oklahoma Election Board secretary.

Neighboring Arkansas and Missouri also will hold presidential primaries on that date. Three states that border Oklahoma _ Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico _ will hold caucuses.

Candidates do not have to file in person to be on the presidential primary ballot in Oklahoma.

Only Democratic and Republican candidates will be on the presidential primary ballot because their parties are the only officially recognized political parties in Oklahoma.

Only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in primaries in Oklahoma.

Independents or candidates from other parties can file for president in June, but only if they circulate petitions and secure 43,913 valid signatures, representing 3 % of the vote for president in Oklahoma in 2004.