Kim Henry, Kim Holland speak Friday

By Althea Peterson

Transcript Staff Writer

For the Democratic Party, the polls are promising, so some think the last 10 days before the election should be a breeze.

And that's what's worrying party members, including Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington.

"The only way to get beat is to beat ourselves, to not take our friends and family out to vote," Hobson said

Hobson spoke along with First Lady Kim Henry and Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland at the Cleveland County Democratic Party Tyner Cornbread and Beans Friday at Step Brothers. Henry and Holland echoed Hobson's words of warning.

"I'm so afraid if we don't keep the Senate and don't take the House, of what would happen to early childhood education," Henry said. "Get out there, toe the line, drag them to the polling booths and make sure they know how to vote."

Holland said Democrats are confident and optimistic, but cannot take anything for granted at this point in the election.

"Democrats' worst nightmare is that people will not turn out to vote," Holland said. "We have to have you out there. It is critical that we share our vision for Oklahoma with others and that they go to the polls."

Holland, who was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry and took office Feb. 4, 2005, said she was pleased that $2.5 million has been recovered for Oklahoma policyholders since then. She said that work is not finished yet.

"There are children in this state that do not have health insurance," Holland said. "That's deplorable and that's unacceptable ... we need to do what needs to be done to ensure that every citizen in this state has affordable health insurance.

Holland also criticized recent advertisements on television that speak against her. She said the advertisements appeared from a group in Texas.

"I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt to the people of Oklahoma that they can see through that," Holland said. "We need to stand up together and say enough is enough -- not just Democrats or Republicans, but all of us need to say that this isn't how we elect candidates."

Kim Henry said she is impressed by how Democratic candidates have acted in past and current elections. She noted how Pete Regan, former candidate for lieutenant governor, joined Democratic nominee Jari Askins at her watch party election night.