October 10, 2012
The Tulsa World
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

Gov. Mary Fallin literally packed the house on Tuesday.

Her appearance at the home of Mayor Dewey Bartlett and his wife, Victoria Bartlett, for the annual membership meeting of the Republican Women's Club of Tulsa County filled the place to the rafters, spilled out onto the backyard patio and lined the streets of the surrounding neighborhood with everything from aging sedans to brand-new import convertibles.

About 225 ardent Republicans came for what turned out to be a pep talk from Fallin on the upcoming election.

"We came driving up ... and had a problem finding a place to park," Fallin said. "I'm sure some of you had the same issue, but that's a good problem for the Republican Party to have."

Numbers, obviously, are not a problem for Republicans in most parts of Oklahoma.

Complacency, Fallin said, is the party's biggest opponent in the Nov. 6 general election.

"We can't let our foot off the pedal to the metal," she said.

Fallin singled out several Republican candidates in what could be competitive races, including Katie Henke - the only one present - and Jadine Nollan in the state House of Representatives, Jim Bridenstine in the 1st Congressional District and Markwayne Mullin in the 2nd Congressional District.

She also acknowledged the service of U.S. Rep. John Sullivan, defeated by Bridenstine in the GOP primary.

"Let me say something about the 'war on women,' " Fallin said, a reference to Democratic claims that GOP policies hurt women.

She said the Obama administration has waged "a war on people" through high unemployment.

"We don't want to forget our local candidates," Fallin said, "but the presidential election is certainly going to be a tipping point for our nation."

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