One statewide race on puny runoff ballot

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ For most Oklahomans voting in Tuesday's runoff election, primaries for lieutenant governor will be the only item on the ballot. <br/><br/>Hands-on campaigning is the name of the

Saturday, August 19th 2006, 2:04 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ For most Oklahomans voting in Tuesday's runoff election, primaries for lieutenant governor will be the only item on the ballot.

Hands-on campaigning is the name of the game as the election draws near. A low turnout is expected.

Voters in the 5th Congressional District will be deciding between Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett for the Republican nomination. The winner will face Dr. David Hunter, the Democratic nominee.

All of the candidates for lieutenant governor say they are knocking doors, walking main streets and doing all the personal campaigning they can ahead of Tuesday's vote in 77 counties.

Pete Regan, former congressional aide to U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, faced House minority leader Jari Askins, D-Duncan, in the Democratic contest for lieutenant governor.

The Republican race pitted House Speaker Todd Hiett of Kellyville against state Sen. Scott Pruitt of Broken Arrow.

State Election Board Secretary Michael Clingman was not making a prediction on a turnout, except that it will be low.

Clingman had predicted that between 600,000 and 700,000 would vote in the primary, based on turnouts in similar elections. Only 24 percent of voters, or about 445,000, showed up at polling sites, however.

Hot weather, high gasoline prices and general voter apathy were blamed for the puny turnout.

Fallin, a three-term state official and former legislator, emerged from what Republicans were calling the strongest primary field ever in an Oklahoma congressional election to get 35 percent of the vote in a six-way race. Cornett got 24 percent to finish second.

The two candidates took part in relatively uneventful television debates last week.

Fallin is favored for several reasons, including her ability to continue television advertising after the runoff, while Cornett was unable to do that because he was far behind in fundraising.

The lieutenant governor also drew support from the other four candidates in the race, including Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode, who got 19 percent on July 25.

Hiett, Pruitt, Askins and Regan all predicted they were on the way to victory, although some of the candidates expressed nervousness about who would turn out.

Both Hiett and Pruitt were in Republican territories of northwest Oklahoma Thursday and Friday.

``We're expecting a light turnout so we're going to be working to turn out as many of our voters as possible,'' said Hiett, who got 43 percent of the vote in the primary to Pruitt's 34 percent.

Hiett said he had been walking main streets, talking to voters, while his campaign continued to raise money to avoid a deficit. ``We feel like we are maintaining our lead and actually gaining,'' he said.

He said the prospects of a low turnout, however, ``does create a more uncomfortable situation when you don't know who exactly is going to go to the polls.''

Pruitt said he had been involved mainly ``in direct voter contact, sitting down with folks. We're encouraged about what we are hearing on the campaign trail.''

He said his campaign, with the help of family, friends and volunteers, had spent a lot of time going door to door. ``I believe that is something that will make a difference on election day.''

Askins, who has donated more than $500,000 to her campaign, was the only lieutenant governor candidate to appear Friday at an Oklahoma Municipal League forum. She said she would go right back to the streets, shaking hands with voters.

Askins said the race will be hands-on through election day. She has stressed her experience, integrity and ability to get things done in her television ads. Now, she said a personal approach is vital and she would be out meeting as many people as she can ``trying to give them a reason to go vote.''

Regan, meanwhile, campaigned Friday in Oklahoma City and Norman, accompanied by former Gov. George Nigh. They then headed east toward McAlester. Regan's wife, Amy, was campaigning in the eastern Oklahoma towns of Poteau and Stigler with Donna Nigh, the ex-governor's wife.

Regan said undecided voters broke his way in the primary when he came from a few percentage points in the polls to 29 percent, finishing second to Askins, who got 40 percent. ``We feel like we are continuing to pick up the momentum and our theme of a new generation and new ideas is working.''

The race for lieutenant governor is heightened this year for two reasons. First, it is an open seat with Fallin's departure to run for the congressional post Republican Ernest Istook is leaving to challenge Democratic incumbent Brad Henry.

Second, Senate Democrats hold only a 26-22 advantage in the 48-member body and the GOP is shooting to take control for the first time ever. The closeness of the political makeup of the Senate could give the lieutenant governor more power, since he or she can break tie votes.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close 7 p.m. at more than 2,000 precincts in the state's 77 counties.

A dozen runoff races for legislative posts also are on the ballot, along with two runoffs for district attorney.