Experts say anyone could win the Democratic presidential primary in Oklahoma.

Eight of the nine candidates paid 25-hundred dollars in filing fees last week for the right to appear on the February third ballot.<br><br>The early date has candidates flocking the state and airing political

Sunday, December 7th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Eight of the nine candidates paid 25-hundred dollars in filing fees last week for the right to appear on the February third ballot.

The early date has candidates flocking the state and airing political ads.

On the Republican side, President Bush filed this week and even drew an opponent -- Bill Wyatt. Wyatt ran unsuccessfully in the recent California recall election.

All the candidates, except Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, have visited Oklahoma at least once.

A recent poll by Oklahoma Opinion Quarterly shows ten percent of voters would choose Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, followed by retired General Wesley Clark and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean at nine percent each.

Gary Copeland is director of the Carl Albert Center at the University of Oklahoma. Copeland expects public interest in the race to pick up now that the ballot is known and the candidates are running political ads.