This is not turning out to be a very good for the GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate in Oklahoma. First, word came on Monday that his substantial lead in the polls had disappeared as Democrat Brad Carson took a small 2 point lead. Later, the national media began picking up a story that first ran on Salon.com regarding a possibly fraudulent act Coburn took as an doctor (the Washington Post and the New York Times examine how Dr. Tom may have sterilized a woman against her will, then billed medicare in a possibly fraudulent act). Now, as the Republican continues to reel, it appears as though a comment he recently made may have offended one of Oklahoma's largest constituencies.

Channel 5 Oklahoma is reporting that Coburn made extremely insensitive comments regarding Native Americans in the Sooner state. Under the headline "Cherokee Nation Leaders Criticize Coburn Comments", they write:

Cherokee Nation leaders say remarks made by U.S. Senate candidate Tom Coburn during a town hall meeting in Altus last month were divisive and offensive to Indians.

In a news release Thursday, tribal leaders quoted Coburn as calling treaties between the United States and Indian Nations "a joke" and "primitive agreement(s)."

"I mean, this is a joke," Coburn was quoted as saying. "It is one thing for us to keep our obligations to recognize Native Americans, but it's a totally different thing for us to allow a primitive agreement with the Native Americans to undermine Oklahoma's future."

The Cherokee Nation also released audio of Coburn's comments.

"I'm a Republican and it's hard to understand why Tom Coburn takes pride in dividing Oklahoma and ridiculing people," said Chad Smith, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Coburn is losing it, and it appears as though all Carson has to do is stay out of his opponent's way. While this race may have seemed unwinnable at one point, this is rapidly becoming a state that the Democrats could (and maybe should) win. Go to BradCarson.com to support the Democrats' chances at retaking the Senate.