Addressing a breakfast for the state delegation, Inhofe said he is certain the Republican ticket of Arizona Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will beat Obama and Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden, the Tulsa World reported Saturday. Inhofe said there is one question voters will be asking on Election Day.

"Do you really want to have a guy as commander in chief of this country when you can question whether or not he really loves his country?" he asked.

Shannon Gilson, an Obama spokeswoman, called Inhofe's comments an example of the "cynical partisan politics Americans are tired of."

Inhofe issued a statement Friday insisting he was not "questioning Sen. Obama's patriotism, but you have to question why at times he seems so obviously opposed to public displays of patriotism and national pride, like wearing an American flag lapel pin."