Senate majority leader campaigns for Tom Coburn

Friday, September 17th 2004, 9:50 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Friday urged Oklahomans to vote for Republican Tom Coburn for the U.S. Senate if they believe in the agenda of President George Bush.

Frist, who appeared at fund-raising events for Coburn in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, said Oklahoma voters ``may very well determine the future of the United States of America'' by how they vote in Coburn's race with Democrat Brad Carson.

Republicans hold a 51-48 edge over Democrats in the Senate and Oklahoma is one of a handful of states where Democrats are hoping to close the gap.

Frist said key decisions on the Senate floor often come down to a single vote.

He said the outcome of a major budget fight on the Senate floor three years ago was determined by one vote.

Coburn played on his reputation as a conservative maverick to capture the GOP Senate nomination, saying he would oppose his party and President Bush when he thought they were wrong issues.

On Friday, he said he stands by that position, but will probably vote with the GOP leadership ``95 or 96 percent'' of the time.