As Much of Nation Went Blue, Okla. Applied Extra Coat of Red

"Oklahoma voters loved Palin," and they respected McCain as a former prisoner of war, said Keith Gaddie, University of Oklahoma political science professor.

He said another factor working for McCain was that the state economy is in good shape, compared with that of much of the rest of the country that went for Obama. The oil and gas industry has been strong here in recent years.

Democrats had hoped to pick up a half-dozen seats in the Oklahoma House while at least holding their own in the state Senate, which had 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans.

Instead, Republicans picked up four House seats to raise their majority to 61 to 40 and gained two state Senate posts to take a 26 to 22 edge.

Inhofe was reelected to the Senate with 57 percent of the vote.

Holmes said Democrats overall were hurt by the millions of dollars Inhofe spent on television ads pairing his opponent, state Sen. Andrew Rice, and Obama and calling them "too liberal for Oklahoma."

He said Democrats did not have the money to counteract those commercials as well as ads run by incumbent GOP members of Congress, who faced little-known Democrats. Republican hold four of five House seats and both Senate positions.

Democratic Gov. Brad Henry, who endorsed Obama, said he was disappointed by the election outcome but not surprised, based on the state's track record in presidential elections.