Watts nixes return to politics

Former Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) won’t be making a return to the political sphere, as the Oklahoman reports he won’t be running for governor in 2010.

That’s good news for Rep. Mary Fallin (R-Okla.), who probably would have remained the favorite for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, but now has a much clearer path. A Wilson Research poll from earlier this month showed Fallin up 39-36, and other polling has shown her up by double-digits.

The story also states that Watts said “current business and contractual obligations create hurdles.” To me, that means that if Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) announces his retirement June 1, as I discussed in my story today Watts won’t be a candidate for that office either.

For good measure, Public Policy Polling surveyed both he and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) in a prospective open Senate race last week.

-Aaron Blake