Campaign Ads and Labels Divide Kevin Calvey, James Lankford

By Nathan Elliott, News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Republicans Kevin Calvey and James Lankford were divided over campaign ads, personal attacks and labels during a Friday appearance on NEWS 9 This Morning.

Calvey and Lankford will face off August 24 in the Republican runoff primary election for U.S. House District 5, which includes Oklahoma City.

They agreed on several issues including removing the federal government's role in common education, enforcing current federal immigration laws and repealing President Obama's federal health care law.

There was heated debate over campaign ads and labels.

One point of contention was a flier that Calvey's campaign sent to voters that reads, "James Lankford is not ready to serve in Congress." It appeared to attribute that statement to The Edmond Sun newspaper. Calvey clarified the handbill and the unintentional placement of The Edmond Sun logo.

"This [statement] should not have been attributed to The Edmond Sun, it's an inadvertent mistake," Calvey said.

Lankford said the clarification was not enough.

"There's been no retraction, there's been no, 'hey, we gave a false statement,'" Lankford said. "There's been a pattern of [Calvey] stretching the truth more and more and more everyday."

Calvey said he was offended by Lankford's campaign ads, which labeled Calvey "a career politician."

"[Lankford] impugned my integrity in the military," Calvey said. "He said I'm a career politician, and that's during a time when I was risking my life to serve our country to preserve his right to free speech."

Calvey served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1998 until 2006.

Shortly after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Calvey sought a commission in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. His mission in Iraq was to prosecute al Qaeda leaders and other terrorists within the Iraqi court system. Calvey was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.

Lankford denied ever criticizing Calvey's military service.

"I personally come from a military family," Lankford said. "My family was in the Pentagon they day it was taken down."

From 1996 until recently, Lankford served as director at Falls Creek youth camp, the largest Christian camp in the nation.

In the July 27 primary election, neither candidate received the votes needed to win his party's nomination outright.

The winner of Tuesday's runoff will face Democrat Billy Coyle and Independents Clark Duffe and Dave White in the November 2 general election.

Candidates are vying to fill the seat vacated by U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, who is running against Democrat Jari Askins for Governor of Oklahoma.

More:

• Watch the "debate"
• Meet the candidates for Governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House
• Voting 101: Casting Your Vote