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  • A heavy voter turnout is expected for today’s Presidential Election and, as this sign at a Grand Avenue business indicates, “your vote counts.” Hotly contested races for Sheriff and House District 47 were expected to make the turnout particularly heavy in Grady County, especially based upon the number of voters who took advantage of the early voting period that ended Monday afternoon. All precincts are open today until 7 p.m.

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November 4, 2008

Finally, Election Day 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Republicans appear in firm control ahead of Tuesday's historic presidential election in Oklahoma, even though Democrats hold an advantage in voter registration.

The latest polls still show GOP standard bearer John McCain with about a 2-1 lead over Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe with a strong lead over Democrat Andrew Rice.

Meanwhile the five members of the U.S. House from Oklahoma — four of them Republicans — seemed to be safe bets for re-election.

Early voting at county election boards ebbed Monday on the eve of the election, said state Election Board Secretary Mike Clingman.

"It slowed down quite a bit," with waiting times less than an hour in Oklahoma County and Tulsa County, Clingman said.

But he said a record early vote is still assured after election boards in the state's two largest cities processed more than 500 voters an hour and heavy voting was reported in other counties.

"Early voting has shown there is a lot of enthusiasm among supporters, perhaps of both camps," Clingman said. "That doesn't always translate to a record turnout, but a record wouldn't surprise me."

Oklahoma set a record with a turnout of 1.46 million in the presidential election in 2004.

No one is suggesting Obama has a chance to win in the state, but state Democratic Chairman Ivan Holmes said he thinks the energy of Obama's young supporters should carry him past John Kerry's 35 percent showing four years ago.

Will race be a factor? "I think it is to some point, especially among older voters," Holmes said.

"I don't feel it is as much race as it is him (Obama) being so liberal and not in touch with what Oklahomans believe in," said Gary Jones, state Republican chairman.

Oklahoma differs from many other states in that Republicans gained 2,000 registered voters before the election. Democrats still hold an edge over the GOP with about 1.1 million registered voters, compared to about 860,000 Republicans and 245,000 independents.

Rice, a 35-year-old state senator, has been outspent 2-1 by Inhofe, who is seeking a third full term in office.

Polls showed Rice doing well in Tulsa and Oklahoma County, but lagging behind in rural areas, where he is not as well known. Rice has predicted he will win Tulsa County, which Inhofe represented in the House before being elected to the Senate in 1994.

Republican U.S. Reps. John Sullivan of the 1st Congressional District, Frank Lucas of the 3rd District, Tom Cole of the 4th District and Mary Fallin of the 5th District all were heavy favorites to defeat underfinanced opponents, as was Democrat Dan Boren of the 2nd District.

Businesswoman Georgianna Oliver, a Democrat, spent over $500,000 in her race against Sullivan, including more than $400,000 she loaned her campaign.

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Finally, Election Day 2008
by Anonymous , , Tue Nov 04, 2008, 03:52 PM CST
Local News
Sports
Obituaries
  • THOMAS DAVID CRUZAN

    Thomas David Cruzan, born May 15, 1948 to Boyce and Lena Cruzan died August 22, 2010.  Services will be Saturday August 28th at 4:00pm at the Kentucky Avenue Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Pastor Stanley Daniel will be officiating.      

    August 27, 2010

  • ROBERT HUBER "BOB" WEIDENMAIER

    Services for Robert Huber "Bob" Weidenmaier, 83, of Fort Cobb will be held at 1:00 P.M., Friday, August 27, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Fort Cobb with the Rev. Tim Trujillo, pastor, officiating. Mr. Weidenmaier was born September 16,1926 in Oklahoma City to Emil & Delma (Daigh) Weidenmaier and passed from this life on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 in Oklahoma City. He was preceded in death by his mother; his brother, William D. (Bill); his step-mother, Loleet; his father and his wife of 57 years.

    August 27, 2010

  • RUBY HELEN KUYKENDALL

    Services for Ruby Helen Kuykendall, 80, former Minco resident, were held on Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 11a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Minco, Oklahoma, under the direction of Huber-Reynolds Funeral Home. Officiating service were Dr. Don Rodgers and Reverend Gary Adams. Burial was in Evergreen Cemetery in Minco.
    Ruby was born August 17, 1930 at Geary, Oklahoma to Lewis Stanton Sr., and Ruby Reynolds. She died, Sunday, August 22, 2010 at the Litzenberg Hospital in Central City, Nebraska.
     

    August 26, 2010

  • MEARL GENE CLARK

    August 24, 2010 1 Photo

  • ANNA LOIS HALL

    August 24, 2010

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