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A Day at the Races: Oklahoma
Monday, November 1, 2004
Republican Tom Coburn (l) and Rep. Brad Carson. Photos © AP
A DAY AT THE RACES
South Dakota
Heated Senate race targets Native voters.
California
Governor makes issue of tribal gaming. Again.
Oklahoma
Cherokee tribal member eyes open Senate seat.
Alaska
Two strong candidates bank on Native vote.
Washington
Washington tribes battle gaming measure.
Nebraska
Nebraska tribes could finally get Class III gaming.
Montana
Cyanide mining initiative irks tribes.
Colorado
Retiring Ben Nighthorse Campbell prompts battle.
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One race that will help determine which party controls the Senate features
Rep. Brad Carson,
a member of the
Cherokee Nation, against Republican
Tom Coburn, a former congressman. The campaign has been particularly negative and nasty, with attack ads coming from both sides.
Carson is marketing conservative values to a conservative electorate but Coburn, a stalwart conservative, has enjoyed a strong surge in the support in the closing weeks after
struggling amid numerous stumbles. At a town hall, he referred to Cherokees are "barely Indian" and derided the trust responsibility, remarks that
angered Cherokee Nation officials.
Polls show the two neck-and-neck, with Coburn gaining the advantage.
During his House races, Carson benefited from Native support in a district that is about 20 percent Native. But the impact of the Native vote statewide is less clear. If elected, he would be the only Native American in the Senate.
Related Stories:
Four Oklahoma tribes endorse Carson for
Senate (10/27)
Two Oklahoma tribal
leaders endorse Coburn (10/26)
Cherokee
leaders blast Coburn for 'divisive' remarks (9/17)
Woman counters Coburn on forced sterilization
(09/17)
Senate candidate Coburn denies
malpractice (9/15)
Senate race pits
tribal member against conservative (07/28)
Beyond the Senate vote, there are three state questions on the ballot impacting tribes. The biggest is State Question 712, which would
legalize certain electronic gaming machines at tribal casinos
and racetracks in exchange for a share of revenues and compliance with cigarette tax compacts. Large tribes, like the Chickasaw, Choctaw and Cherokee nations, support the initiative but
small tribes say they will not benefit from handing more regulatory authority to the state.
State Question 705 and State Question 706 have seen the same big three tribes pour large dollar amounts into the campaign. The initiatives would set up a lottery, a move that some see as legalizing Class III games in the state.
Related Stories:
Oklahoma tribes pour $551K into state question
(10/29)
Three Oklahoma tribes big donors to
campaigns (10/26)
Creek Nation council opposes state
gaming question (10/15)
Chickasaw
Nation donates $251K in one month (10/14)
Oklahoma tribes back state gaming
initiative (10/12)
Small Oklahoma tribes oppose gaming
question (09/27)
Oklahoma gaming nearly doubles in two
years (08/30)
Concerns expressed over Oklahoma gaming
pact (08/25)
Oklahoma tribes meet with anti-gaming
lawmaker (05/17)
Oklahoma House repeals tribal-state
gaming act (05/13)
Small Oklahoma tribes back repeal of
gaming bill (05/07)
Oklahoma tribes support repeal of gaming
compact bill (05/06)
Oklahoma tribes are 80 percent of MGAM
revenues (04/26)
Tribes giving up revenues, exclusivity in
compact (01/21)
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