CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 23% 73% 93% 6% 1997 24 68 93 3 1990 36 40 49 23 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 98 1997 95 1990 76	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 5% n/a 100% 92 % 1997 0 0 89 96 1990 28 58 70 58
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

OKLAHOMA 3 : Southeast - 'Little Dixie'

Known as "Little Dixie" for its heavy southern influence, the 3rd relies on farming and is nearly 80 percent Democratic. The rolling hills flatten and the forest thins as one moves west through Love and Carter counties. American Indians, some of whose ancestors ended their "Trail of Tears" march in the area, have a sizable presence in the district.

A 1998 drought was as severe as any in the dust bowl era of the 1930s, but conservation techniques prevented similar sandstorms. The economy, however, did suffer. Farmers were forced to use feed for grazing animals by mid-summer, several months earlier than normal, padding their expenses. In addition to beef and poultry, farmers cultivate peanuts and wheat, and in rocky southeastern McCurtain County, the timber industry thrives. Marginal oil and natural gas wells compose the energy businesses that survived the 1980s industry depression.

The district is the most heavily Democratic in the state - conservative "Yellow Dog" Democrat territory - and Republicans might not have fielded a candidate in 1996 if Rep. Watkins hadn't run as a Republican. Democrats dominate local elective offices, and Clinton won the district - although without a majority - in 1992 and '96.

Major Industry
Timber, ranching, oil and gas

Military Bases
McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, 4 military, 820 civilian (1998)

Population
524,287 (1990)

Cities
Stillwater, 38,487; Shawnee, 26,833; Ardmore, 23,484 (1996)

People
56% rural; 16% age 65+ (ranks first of six in state; top third nationally); 60% married couples, 27% married couples with children; 13% college educated (ranks fourth of six in state; bottom third nationally); 48% white collar (ranks fifth of six in state; bottom third nationally), 32% blue collar (ranks second of six in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Race
84% white, 4% black, 1% Asian, 11% American Indian; 1% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$18,394 (ranks sixth of six in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Athlete Jim Thorpe born in Gordon Grove in 1887; Astronaut Gordon Cooper grew up in Shawnee.

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