Representive Dan Borem targets GOP for defeat

WASHINGTON — Rep. Dan Boren, the only Democrat in Oklahoma’s congressional delegation, has been targeted by the national Republican Party, despite his electoral success in his eastern Oklahoma district and a large amount of campaign cash.

Boren, of Muskogee, appears on a list of 80 House Democrats the National Republican Congressional Committee is aiming to defeat in next year’s elections.

Gary Jones, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, said Tuesday that six Republicans in the 2nd congressional district have said they want to run next year. He called them "very talented, well-educated individuals.”

Despite being about 70 percent registered Democrats, Boren’s district voted overwhelmingly last year for Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee.

Jones said 66 percent of voters in the 2nd district favored McCain, the second highest percentage among the five congressional districts. Jones acknowledged that Boren often votes against the majority of the Democratic Party but said he’s still "part of the team.”

Boren spokesman Cole Perryman said Boren "has been on similar lists since entering Congress, but has won convincingly in each of his elections by reflecting his district’s views.”Boren, who has been in the House since 2005, won re-election last year with 70 percent of the vote. In 2006, he got 73 percent of the vote.

Karina Henderson, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said despite the McCain support, the district is still loyal to state Democrats.

And, she said, "Congressman Boren has done a lot of service to the district and he represents the people that live there tremendously well. He listens to them and he listens to their needs.”

Boren is sitting on a large campaign warchest — more than $1.2 million. Jones said any Republican challenging Boren would need "a significant amount of resources.”

Boren’s placement on the GOP’s hit list follows a recent decision by the national party to run a radio ad in Boren’s district questioning his health care position. Boren scoffed at the amount spent to broadcast the ad — $1,700 — saying the party would get more publicity from the news release announcing it.


from the oklahoman