Inhofe, R-Tulsa, who has been in the Senate since late 1994, got 84 percent of the vote, defeating three GOP rivals: Dennis Lopez, a Baptist preacher from Thackerville; Evelyn L. Rogers, a Tulsa librarian; and Ted Ryals, an Oklahoma City attorney.
Rice, a Democrat and freshman state senator from Oklahoma City, took 60 percent of the vote to defeat Jim Rogers of Midwest City. After his victory, Rice immediately challenged Inhofe to debates; Inhofe said earlier Tuesday that he would welcome debates.
Inhofe said Tuesday he hasn’t met Rice; he said he had been told by other Republicans that Rice was among the more liberal members of the state Senate.
“I'm considered a hard-line conservative,” Inhofe, 73, said.
Rice, 35, said Tuesday that he has positions that range across the spectrum — from conservative on guns and immigration to the left on some social issues. He said Inhofe is highly partisan, while the state and country need lawmakers from both parties to start working together.
Both men said voters would be given a clear choice in November.
Inhofe said he will focus his campaign on his experience and the influence his seniority gives him, even as a member of the minority party in Washington. Democrats control the Senate and are widely expected to pick up seats this fall.
Inhofe is the top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, which has given him a voice on environmental issues — which he has used to try to debunk claims about global warming — but also on funding for highway and water projects. Should Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., win the presidency, Inhofe would be in line to become the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee.
Rice and Inhofe said they look forward to debating energy policy, which has consumed Congress for the past few weeks.
Rice challenged Inhofe to six debates around the state. Inhofe didn’t commit to a definite number.
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Michael, if you're going to attempt to use facts with your arguments, the least you could do is buy a clue. The United States is the 3rd most populous country in the world behind China and India, and more than double the population of Russia. When China and India get a little further through their 2nd world status, they'll be using way more oil than we ever dreamed of using, not to mention the vast amounts of coal they're already burning.
Blah Blah Blah..... You guys kill me you sell a rainbow world with peace love and understanding which only works if everyone deals in hugs and kisses. You hide your policy flaws behind your social conscience all the while supporting a group of people who overspend and feed from the big business they publicly scorn. How can you even complain about dependency on foreign oil when your party has spent a decade voting to suppress domestic development and restrict nuclear advancement. How do you type such nonsense without feeling like the worlds largest hypocrite? AS to Brazil that's easy they drill in all areas where they can find it and they use it something you and your party will not allow here in this country. You want to take the lid off a box try your own pal you are the problem and the person complaining without even knowing it. You want a place of freedom and lack of persecution but you guys as a party cry about the war nonstop even though women vote and go to school now because of us where is your social conscience on this issue? Women would have lined up to sacrifice their life in this country for the right to vote and still you cry. I read your whole post all fluff and no practical answers typical.
Brent, so nice that you want to yet again pick and choose. if you read my entire post you would see that is only 1 issue we are facing as a nation, with 2 major concerns being the Economy and reducing our dependance on oil. There are many major studies and countries that do not depend on foreign oil with the largest Brazil. at 95% of all vehicles are ran off of ethanol, we as a country have to look at the larger picture. We as a country use 45% of the oil the world produces and yet we have one of the smaller populations when it comes to comparisons with China, Russia, India. I guess what you miss is that republicans right now are stuck in a box with the lid closed and taped shut. Living on old ideas, old notions, and the belief the world is not changing. Democrats used to be in the box republicans are in now and we are now thinking out side the box from renewable energy to stop the high demand on oil, to new jobs to drive a new economy that teaches us that we have to learn to live and sustain ourselves in what we have, to have a foreign policy that meets todays needs but also boost the hope all Americans have republican or democrat in all people should have freedom, to live a life free of persecution, to have a chance to have a home, a job they are happy at and know that the government works for them not big business. I guess that is the difference you choose not to live outside the box and have a hope for a better tomorrow but wish for a better yesterday.
tu you epitomize what I despise about the internet and the direction of our country. Thanks for never being interesting and or original hopefully it will lessen your chances of reproduction.
Maybe I am going about this all wrong. If you Liberals are going to buy into this nonsense so easily maybe I should be selling you guys crap. David Ponca City will someday be a beach according to your liberal gods you want to buy some poles to put your house on? Come on only have to store them for 10000 years they are real cheap free shipping you in?
David, the number of polar bears drowning is statistically insignificant compared to their total population, yet you take Algore's word as the prophecy. I can only imagine what else you fall for hook, line, and sinker.
Brock says Rice does not want to acheive energy independence. What a hoax. You must have gone to the Carl Rove school of polical science and fabrication.
What a contrast. Andrew Rice is a brilliant, Harvard educated, young man. Inhofe is an old codger who has been on the public dole for years, and lied about having a degree from Tulsa U. some years ago. He says global warming is the biggest hoax ever conceived. Andrew Rice has never said that global warming is caused by man, but it exists. Polar bears are drowning on the north pole. Look it up.
Rice is part of the Doomsday Industry who will work in lock step with the Democrat party to lesson the liberties of the average American. He's a Ultra-lib that is blaming man for earths natural warming an cooling process. Because of his misconceived ideas, he will not allow Americans to supply energy for themselves which promotes payments to rogue nations that support radical Islam.
Andrew Rice is a leftist joke.Did you watch this pansy last night sweating at his pathetic results.His opponent didn't spend a dime and got 40%.Rice-Obama are big liberal losers.
Inhofe is a knucklehead and his time has come and gone. I also am in my 70's and my time has come and gone. He needs ro sit on his porce with his paper shoes on and listen and learn. Not a friend of science or common sense.
Matt your position on alternative fuels worked well in developing Ethanol we get 1 BTU at the cost of 1.5BTU and a food shortage. I wonder how much that cost the American tax payer to have that gem developed? Until you and your kind come up with a plan stop complaining about the situation. An uneducated voting populace does not get the government it voted for but the government it deserves.
If this issue of whether or not Global Warming exists is the cornerstone of debate this election, then fine. This state needs to have an open, intelligent discussion about what this country is losing by not solving this problem. The staunch Republicans will of course resort to name-calling (hippies, liberals, tree-huggers, etc.), when they can't come up with any solutions for renewable energy. Why would they want to? Inhofe's campaign is funded by Oil and Gas Corporations. His stance is that Global Warming is a hoax? Talk about avoiding responsibility for price-gouging oil money that busts our wallets, when we should be finding a new way. It makes economical sense to get off oil and other finite natural resources. Inhofe is a millionaire senator that will try to divide this state with name-calling instead of providing solutions to problems that face everyone in this state. Andrew Rice is an honest, educated, spiritual, selfless family man, who wants to represent Oklahoma's interests in Washington. Inhofe could care less about solving problems, he has special interests to answer to.
James-I didn’t write it or publish it I clearly listed the author and his sources something you guys never do when you quote liberal garbage as fact. Please read more carefully it might help with your decision making. Thanks.
Wow, Brent. That's quite a comment. There's even some elements of truth tangled up in that spaghetti bowl of extremist nonsense. Congratulations for finally getting "published"...
Inhofe is 72 years old and is a career politician and has been in DC for 22 years!!! Fire him now....time for change and time for some young blood to get in there with a different set of life experiences! Rice will make an excellent Senator and his dedication to Oklahoma is above reproach.
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