Democrats lead in key state senate races.

10/28/06

TULSA, Okla (AP) -- A poll of likely voters in five state Senate races targeted by Republicans indicates the Democratic candidates are leading and will hold on to those seats.

But a Republican seat Democrats had thought might be vulnerable apparently will remain in Republican hands.

The Oklahoma Poll found Democrats leading in districts 2, 12 and 18 in northeastern Oklahoma, district 16 south of Oklahoma City and District 26 in southwestern Oklahoma.

And the poll found Republican Senator Cliff Branan with a ten percentage point lead in his race for re-election in his northwest Oklahoma City district.

In District 2 Sean Burrage holds a nine point lead, John Mark Young leads by eight points in District 12 and Mary Easley holds a 12 point advantage in District 18.

John Sparks is 17 points ahead in District 16 and Tom Ivester is 25 percentage points ahead in District 26.

The number of undecided voters range from 12 to almost 16 percent.

Republicans are hoping to pick up at least three seats in the November seventh election to take control of the state Senate for the first time in state history.

The poll was conducted October 18th through 21st for the Tulsa World and K-O-T-V and 300 voters in each district were contacted. The margin of error ranges from plus or minus five-point-three to five-point-six percentage points.

© The Associated Press