KS-SEN, KS-02, KS-03: What's the matter (with Republicans) in Kansas?

[RandySF]

Republicans are privately frustrated with Marshall’s lackluster fundraising and don’t believe that a Washington-based endorsement would make much of a difference, given the antiestablishment nature of the GOP electorate in Kansas. But with Democrats clearly taking sides against an underfunded Marshall, he could certainly use a show of support from his own party.

“By flirting too long with other candidates, they didn’t get behind the only candidate that was even remotely competitive with Kobach in the polls, who had money in the bank already, and had a ready-made base in the 1st District,” said one Republican strategist who supports Marshall.

All the Republican infighting comes as the Democratic nominee, state Sen. Barbara Bollier, is racking up big bucks and courting Republican moderates. By the end of June, she had banked over $4.37 million—four times as much campaign cash as Marshall, and 30 times Kobach’s haul.

Meanwhile, internal Republican polling shows that the president has lost considerable ground in Kansas, a state he won with 57 percent of the vote in 2016. One operative involved in the Senate race said Trump is only up narrowly statewide, which has had a trickle-down effect downballot. A Republican candidate in the GOP-friendly 2nd District (state Treasurer Jake LaTurner) released an internal poll this week showing him leading the Democrat by only 1 point in a district that Trump carried by 19 points. In 2018, Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids comfortably won the suburban 3rd District, which looks likely to remain in Democratic hands.

Given that slippage, Republicans expect the general election to be unusually competitive, regardless of the GOP nominee. But if Kobach emerges, Republicans fret the race would be close to a lost cause. With two weeks to go, it’s surprising there isn’t more GOP urgency to rally around their most electable candidate.




https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/708545?unlock=KJFPV4L13HEE8RRF

[beachbumbob]

1. Kobach has a hardliner support so winning a primary is way easier then a general election

Kansas has been ground zero for Koch Brothers intent of destroying government and the tide has turned in Kansas where moderate republicans have been aligning with democrats. Nov 3rd outcome will not be pretty for the GOP in Kansas

[hatrack]

2. Yep - for decades, the only important election in KS has been the GOP primary

Womp womp.

[beachbumbob]

3. Kansas is changing. Brownback terms as governor taught the state a lesson or 2

[hatrack]

4. Finally - KS appears to now understand that guns, fetuses and Jesus don't fix the roads . . .

But we'll see what happens in November for confirmation.

[beachbumbob]

5. GOP on defense in Kansas AND doing all they can to make more democratic voters. The idea

of forcing schools to reopen with little or no plans will solidify their demise