Kansas GOP Figures It Out

As a friend posted on Facebook late last night said, I never in a million years thought this would happen. Just a few years ago Kansas Republicans were falling all over themselves to elect or re-elect ultra conservatives like Phill Kline and Jim Ryun.

In yesterday's primary, both of those candidates fell to their more moderate republican opponents. Scott Swenson, from Reproductive Health Reality Check, says it best:

"Kline didn't just lose. He was trounced 60-40 percent. Jenkins won a very narrow victory that may be subject to recount. Kansans have spoken loud and clear and they are rejecting extremist anti-choice rhetoric. The far-right has overreached, as has the Bush Administration on so many levels, and moderate Republicans tonight claim their first real victory in Kansas, with similar national implications, since Nancy Kassebaum was elected as the first woman to win a U.S. Senate seat in her own right, in 1978."

Ryun on the other hand bungled his reelection attempts from the beginning raising and spending in overwhelming amounts on seemingly insubstantial items like a flashy but non-functioning website or expensive DC consulting firms and staff.

It has been whispered by Kansas Republicans for some time that the State Party leaders didn't want Ryun to run again, but Rep. Todd Tihardt's promise of help and endorsement ensured Ryun another attempt. Tihardt was the one who got Ryun to run in the 90's and it was roomered that Tihardt felt a loyalty in supporting Ryun.

Ryun spent a majority of the race fundraising out of state and dropped hundreds of thousands of dollars into an expansive ad buy including a 60 second ad that featured himself as a runner once again.

"Jenkins argued Ryun had worn out his welcome, with campaign commercials that reminded voters that they only two years ago chose to vote Ryun out of office. Ryun lost to Democrat Boyda, whom he defeated by 15 percentage points in an initial 2004 matchup, in a district that favored President Bush with 59 percent in his 2004 race." Says CQ Politics this morning

Lynn Jenkins by contrast ran a similar campaign against Ryun as Boyda did in 2006, attempting to tie him to being more Washington than Kansas. And at times when Kansans indeed all Americans are suffering from high gas prices and a failing economy her CPA credentials might have enticed Republicans who are also looking for change. The race might have been closer had she not spent their debate calling the former Representative babe, however.

One thing is certain, Nancy Boyda's race for Congress just got 100% harder last night. Her numbers against Ryun assured her with another win but due to Jenkins's low name ID in May 2008 when the poll was done, Boyda also edges out Jenkins but with a much larger group of undecideds. But now, with two candidates who have very few differences, the hope is that Boyda will edge Jenkins out with a message of connectivity and a relationship to the Kansas 2nd District. Jenkins, on the other hand, might be able to link herself to the "change" bandwagon especially with a strong CPA economic message.

Has the Kansas GOP finally figured out that conservatives are a losing paradigm?

You'd think so, but just look at the State School Board candidates? All conservatives...