Coronation On Hold
http://www.rollcall.com/pages/politics/00/2002/07/pol0711c.html
Oklahoma Contest Will Pit Pair of Ex-NRCC Aides
By Chris Cillizza
July 11, 2002
The coronation of former Oklahoma Secretary of State Tom Cole (R) for
the 4th district seat of retiring Rep. J.C. Watts (R) hit a snag
Wednesday when attorney Marc Nuttle (R) entered the fray.
The race pits two former executive directors of the National
Republican Congressional Committee who are now high-powered lobbyists
with significant Washington connections.
Cole said he was "surprised" by Nuttle's candidacy and that he spoke
with Nuttle by phone "during the J.C. process" when Nuttle pledged
not to run.
Nuttle confirmed that he did not consider the race initially but
after the "overwhelming response from people in the district," he
decided to run.
Five other lesser-known Republicans have also filed.
Ben Odom, who took 38 percent of the vote against Watts in 1998, will
be challenged by former state Senate Majority Leader Daryl Roberts
and rancher Lance Compton in the Democratic primary. Brandon Clabes
is also running.
Filing in the state closed Wednesday with the primary scheduled for
Aug. 27.
One other Oklahoma primary seems likely to draw significant attention
as Rep. Brad Carson (D) will face off against state Rep. Mike Mass,
chairman of the Appropriations Committee.
But the focus for the next month and a half will be on the Republican
primary in the 4th district.
Since Watts announced his retirement on July 1, Cole has been all but
anointed as his successor.
He quickly scooped up the endorsement of Watts, as well as Rep. Wes
Watkins (R), who is retiring at the end of this Congress.
Nuttle downplayed the idea that Watts will be active onCole's behalf.
Nuttle said he spoke with Watts about his candidacy and Watts told
him, "You've got to run if you think you need to."
Cole is likely to have significant support from Washington as a
result of his stint as Republican National Committee chief of staff
during the 2000 election cycle and his subsequent service at the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce.
Cole served as state party chairman from 1985 to 1989 and was elected
to the state Senate in 1988, replacing his mother. He resigned his
seat in 1991 to take a post at the NRCC.
Cole returned to Oklahoma after the 1992 election and was appointed
Secretary of State by Gov. Frank Keating (R) in January 1995.
He was named RNC chief of staff in March 1999.
Cole acknowledged that Nuttle will present a serious challenge.
"He is a skilled professional political operative," he said. "It
is
an interesting and unusual matchup."
Cole added that "each of us will do better than the average candidate
[in Washington] but not so well that it will be decisive in the race."
Nuttle's political roots reach to his organizational involvement in
the Christian right during the 1970s.
In 1980, he was named the national field counsel for the
ReaganAdministration; in 1988 he was campaign manager for Pat
Robertson's failed presidential bid. He also served as executive
director of the NRCC in the 1990 cycle.
But Nuttle is perhaps best known for his work as the principal
strategist on Oklahoma's right-to-work referendum passed in September
2001 by a 54 percent to 46 percent margin.
Nuttle has also served as long-time adviser to the National
Federation of Independent Businessmen and worked with the Free
Congress Foundation.
He has secured the consultant team from the right-to-work campaign
with one notable exception: Tom Cole handled the polling for the
referendum.
Despite the similarities in their backgrounds, both candidates
believe they are a better fit for the district.
"I have lived in this district longer than Nuttle has," said
Cole. "My family has lived here almost 140 years."
Cole also said he has stronger organizational support in the
district, which will be key with the primary less seven weeks away.
Nuttle noted that his strength is in the "conservative" base, while
Cole hails from a "party" base and believes that distinction is
essential to his chances.
Some operatives are already beginning to compare the race to Rep.
John Sullivan's (R-Okla.) convincing victory over heavily favored
Oklahoma first lady Cathy Keating (R) in December 2001.
Paul Weyrich, president of Free Congress, said that he spoke with
Sullivan on Wednesday. Sullivan said Nuttle "would run the same type
of campaign he had," according to Weyrich.
Cole rejected the idea that this race's dynamics mirrored the 1st
district race.
"Cathy had terrific support but didn't have the depth of local,
grassroots Republican support," he said.
Odom believes that the Democratic registration edge in the district
will make this race appealing to national Democrats.
"There aren't going to be many open Republican seats in the country
that have a 60 percent [Democratic] registration," he said.
Howard Wolfson, executive director at the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee, was noncommittal about the race.
"We will take a look at the sets of filers on both sides" before
making a decision, he said Wednesday.
Odom also said he is "willing to put personal resources into the
campaign."
At least one Democrat familiar with the district, however, was
skeptical about Odom's chances.
"This is a classic example of us spending a great bit of time in
areas we can't win," he said.
