By ANDREW W. GRIFFIN

Oklahoma Watchdog, editor

Posted: July 23, 2010

andrew@oklahomawatchdog.org

OKLAHOMA CITY — In what one local radio host is calling a “game changer,” the politically-connected former University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer said on Reid Mullins’ morning show on KTOK that he was endorsing Lt. Gov. Jari Askins for the top post in Tuesday’s primary.

A radio ad featuring Switzer endorsing Askins was posted at her campaign website www.jariaskins.com.

Polls have been showing Attorney General Drew Edmondson as the top choice among Democrats, but Askins is coming up fast. As Mike McCarville noted at the McCarville Report Online, “Switzer’s endorsement is considered important by candidates , and apparently by voters. His support of underdog Brad Henry in the 2002 governor’s race is credited by many with helping Henry win the election in an upset over favored Republican Steve Largent” the former All-American at the University of Tulsa and a former wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks.

Sid Hudson, campaign manager for the Askins campaign, said he has known the lieutenant governor for many years, considers her a good friend and believes she would be a great governor. He also said his boss is a good friend of Switzer’s and knew him from his days coaching the Sooners.

“I’d put her sports knowledge up against any governor,” Hudson said. “She’s a real sports fan.”

Hudson said Askins “was very pleased and pleasantly surprised” by Switzer’s endorsement.

“He’s an iconic figure in Oklahoma. We’re proud to have someone with a public profile … hopefully it’s something to put us across the finish line.”

Currently, Hudson said, polls show Askins and Edmondson neck-and-neck or “within the margin of error.” The primary for Democrats and Republicans is next Tuesday.

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