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Oklahoma tends to be the opposite of the coasts, in that the urban areas are more conservative (like suburban Dallas or Houston), while rural areas lean toward populist-style Democrats. The GOP in OK has come a long way, and does well in statewide races, but has not quite gotten over the hump in a lot of local races, leaving the legislature in Dem hands.

Henry's election to the governorship was a freak accident, caused by a strong Independent candidate and a weak campaign by Largent. Henry's governorship is eerily similar to what happened in SC and AL in 1998: Democrats ran on a platform of expanded gambling (lottery...SC later approved it, AL voted it down), scored surprise wins to governorships, and were both booted out of office after one term. I'd be shocked if Henry were re-elected.

As a whole, though, the Dem party is stronger in OK than it is in TX. The rural white Democrats have not abandoned the party in OK in droves as they have in TX. Still, a Republican presidential candidate would have to be caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl to lose either state.