Sullivan, Williamson Back Ernest Istook

Thursday, July 27th 2006, 1:31 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Republican Bob Sullivan took some hard shots at opponent Ernest Istook during the primary but Thursday donated $5,000 to Istook's campaign in a GOP "show of unity" news conference.

Istook defeated Sullivan, state Senator James Williams and Jim Evanoff in the primary and will face Democratic Governor Brad Henry in the general election.

Sullivan sent a letter endorsing Istook but Evanoff says he wasn't invited to the news conference and might vote for Henry.

Istook says immigration will be a key issue because Henry signed a bill into law that allows children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at colleges. Istook also says Henry has done nothing to make English the state's official language.

Istook at one point cut off questions about issues saying the news conference was about Republican unity.