Oklahoma not as 'red' as we were lead to believe?

[Hoss]

Gallup's poll characterizes Oklahoma as 'Edge Dem' when asked of people which party they self identify with.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/125450/Party-Affiliation-Despite-GOP-Gains-States-Remain-Blue.aspx

Interesting

[YoungTulsan]

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2008/02/01/oklahoma-primary-facts-and-figures.html

January 2008 Voter Registration Data

(As of January 15)

Registered voters: 2,022,537

    * Registered Democrats: 1,012,594 (50.07% of total)
    * Registered Republicans: 790,713 (39.10% of total)
    * Independent: 219,230 (10.84% of total)

Hmm, looking like a blue state aren't we?

Wait a sec...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/ok.htm

Oklahoma Electoral Votes: 7
President 100.0% of 2,231 precincts reporting
Candidate   Party   Vote Counts   Votes Cast
John McCain   GOP   959,745   65.6%
Barack Obama   Dem   502,294   34.4%

Well I'll be..

I'm guessing a lot of people registered Democrat back when OK voted for LBJ.

[FOTD]

Dims Dixiecrats!

[Hoss]

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2008/02/01/oklahoma-primary-facts-and-figures.html

January 2008 Voter Registration Data

(As of January 15)

Registered voters: 2,022,537

    * Registered Democrats: 1,012,594 (50.07% of total)
    * Registered Republicans: 790,713 (39.10% of total)
    * Independent: 219,230 (10.84% of total)

Hmm, looking like a blue state aren't we?

Wait a sec...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/ok.htm

Oklahoma Electoral Votes: 7
President 100.0% of 2,231 precincts reporting
Candidate   Party   Vote Counts   Votes Cast
John McCain   GOP   959,745   65.6%
Barack Obama   Dem   502,294   34.4%

Well I'll be..

I'm guessing a lot of people registered Democrat back when OK voted for LBJ.

But see, here's the deal.  Just because you register one way doesn't mean you identify that same way.  I'm not saying we're DC or Illinois or anything, but to be divided right down the middle is a little surprising, given that same data you cited.  That was my point.

[Red Arrow]

Same old story.  Register Democrat and typically vote that way in local/state elections.  Can't identify with the national Democratic party so vote Republican or Independent in national elections.   Been that way for a long time. 

[Conan71]

Dad came from old northern Republican/Episcopalean stock.  He registered as a Democrat either when he was at OU Law or right after. That was the only way he could get anywhere politically in the early 1960's in Oklahoma, or even secure a job in a law firm to hear my Mom tell it.  My grandparents were horrified he'd registered as a Dem.  I don't know that he ever had aspirations to be a legislator per se but he was a district court judge, which was a political appointment.