Independent Gary Richardson says he'll pull off surprise

Thursday, October 31st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Independent Gary Richardson says he isn't worried about the millions of dollars he has spent on his campaign for governor and insists he'll pull off a surprise on Nov. 5.

His opponents, Democrat Brad Henry and Republican Steve Largent, have recently said Richardson's campaign is lagging, according to their polling.

``They're saying that because they want to down play our campaign,'' Richardson said. ``They want people to vote straight party. They are going to be shocked on election day.''

The comments by the 61-year-old Tulsa attorney came Wednesday afternoon after he hopped into his truck to drive to Lawton for a town meeting.

Richardson had a busy day of campaigning in Oklahoma City. Among other things, he spoke to the Silver-Haired Legislature and was the only gubernatorial candidate to show at a forum sponsored by a health organization.

Richardson has been campaigning for 18 months, sounding a populist theme by promising to make turnpikes free roads and fight special interests.

His one-liners have become familiar in television commercials and on billboards across the state.

``Yes we can,'' is his answer to doubters on ending turnpike fees. ``This is not a poor state, this is a poorly managed state,'' is another favorite Richardson saying.

He says only an independent can make progress on tax reform and other important issues such as education.

Richardson says efforts by a Democratic or Republican governor are doomed by partisan bickering in a Legislature that is becoming evenly split politically and increasingly polarized.

According to the latest campaign report, Richardson has loaned his campaign $2.3 million. His total receipts were $2.6 million but would have been higher, he said, if he had accepted money from political action committees.

He said he feels ``absolutely great'' both physically and mentally heading into the home stretch of the campaign.

``I'm pumped,'' he said. ``I go into restaurants and get such an exciting response. People are saying, 'Hang in there, we need you,' and 'I saw you on television last night and you've got my vote.' It's things like that that keep me going.''

Richardson said he had promised to ``awaken the sleeping giant,'' which he described as Oklahomans who had given up on politicians. ``I won't let them down. I am working from sunup to way past dark,'' he said.

But what if his opponents are right? Does he ever feel queasy or get a lump in his throat thinking about the personal fortune he has spent on his first statewide race?

``No, because I made the decision before I started that that is something that would not be beneficial for my frame of mind to start questioning,'' he said.

He said he consulted an expert on independent races prior to beginning his campaign ``and I was told to pay no attention to the polls'' because Oklahoma pollsters are not experienced in gauging such races.

``I'm convinced we're in this race,'' he said. ``I am convinced we're going to win this race.''