American Indian voters flex political muscles.

A surge in American Indian voter turnout may have made the difference in the governor's contest in Oklahoma.<br><br>Governor-elect Brad Henry met with tribal leaders and won the endorsement of Seminole-Creek

Saturday, November 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A surge in American Indian voter turnout may have made the difference in the governor's contest in Oklahoma.

Governor-elect Brad Henry met with tribal leaders and won the endorsement of Seminole-Creek Indian Kelly Haney who lost his bid for governor in the primary.

Chief of the Choctaw Nation Greg Pyle says members of the tribe are voting about thirty percent more now compared to previous elections. A registration drive by the Cherokee Nation registered nine-thousand new voters.

Director of the First Americans Education Project Russ Lehman says it was a show of strength from a group that has rarely gone to the polls. The 2000 Census shows that American Indians make up just one-point-five percent of the population but they tend to be concentrated in particular areas, meaning they can decide close races, especially since Indians have historically voted Democratic.