STROUD — Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and Attorney General Drew Edmondson have remained cordial toward one another as they campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor, but that may change in the final weeks before voters choose between them.

At a campaign event Saturday in Stroud during the Sac and Fox Nation's annual Pow Wow, Askins said she hoped the race stayed friendly, but that campaigns reach a point where candidates have to distinguish themselves from their rivals.

"I'm going to continue to do whatever it takes to draw the distinctions between myself and my opponent, and I have proven in the past that if my record is misrepresented, I will defend myself," she said.

The Duncan native fought a bitter and expensive race for lieutenant governor four years ago against former Republican House Speaker Todd Hiett.

Stroud resident and Democratic voter Geneva Wintz said those types of heated races don't appeal to her.

"What I don't like is that mudslinging," said Wintz, a retiree who said she hasn't decided who she'll vote for in the July 27 primary election.

Edmondson's campaign manager, Emily Lang, said their goal has always been to run a clean, positive campaign.

"That remains true today," Lang said. "The lieutenant governor has promised the same thing, and we hope the positive campaigns run by both parties continues through the primary."

Askins, who was a Stephens County special judge for eight years before serving 12 years in the Oklahoma House, now touts her experience working in all three branches of government and a record of having worked well with Republicans as advantages over Edmondson.

"My background is also the reputation for building consensus and solving problems," she said. "I think my reputation in the Legislature proves that."

The candidates are seeking to replace Democratic Gov. Brad Henry, who has reached his two-term limit. Republican candidates include U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, state Sen. Randy Brogdon, and Oklahoma City businessmen Roger Jackson and Robert Hubbard.

Askins also stopped short of agreeing with Edmondson's position to delay a one-quarter percent reduction in the state's income tax that is scheduled to take effect once state revenues grow by 4 percent. Edmondson has suggested waiting to implement the cut until the state's economy has recovered from dwindling collections and the effects of the national recession.

"It should always be a topic on the table, but I think it will be difficult to convince the Legislature to delay it until we can convince the Legislature that we've made all the cuts we can make," Askins said.

Lawmakers faced a $1.2 billion shortfall as they crafted a state budget for the fiscal year that started July 1, and Askins has suggested legislators focus strictly on the budget when they return to the state Capitol in 2011.

This year, Democratic Gov. Brad Henry and leaders in the Republican-controlled Legislature did not reach a final agreement on a $6.7 billion state budget until the week before session ended.

"I'm a firm believer that we've got to change the way we do the budget process," Askins said. "The only way I know for the Legislature and the governor's office to adequately spend the time that's necessary is for us to use this next session and focus on nothing but the budget, focus on it first. If we get it done, then look at other laws."