By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

Jerry Moran's name will be on the ballot in November as a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Behind the scenes, however, he also will be campaigning -- and raising money -- for the November 2010 campaign for the Senate seat now held by Sam Brownback.

It's a campaign that is being held close to the chest, its actions carefully planned out and, from all indications, directed at only a small handful of people.

Moran tipped his hat to his Senate race in a June 23 letter mailed to a few Republican faithfuls, a copy of which was obtained by The Hays Daily News.

In it, Moran unequivocally announced his intention to go for Brownback's seat.

"While I am running for re-election to the House this fall, I intend to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010," the letter states.

Moran refused to grant multiple requests for interviews. Christian G. Morgan, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, also refused to return a phone call.

Local Republicans, including the county chairman, were unaware of the letter, or for that matter, Moran's pronouncement he will be a candidate for the Senate.

No one was surprised, however.

Moran has long been considered the heir-apparent for the upcoming vacancy in the Senate.

In January, Moran acknowledged that a race for the Senate could be in his future, even more so than a campaign for the governor's seat, also up for election in 2010.

"The Senate seat looks like a more likely option," Moran acknowledged in January. "But a lot can happen over the next two years."

The next two years, of course, would cover his next term in the House, his seventh. Moran has won each of those races by huge margins.

The Senate, however, offers a certain allure, allowing him to continue his practice of commuting back home to Hays on a weekly basis. The Topeka job as governor would dictate moving into Cedar Crest.

The Senate offers substantially more status -- and power -- than serving in the House, given he would be one of only 100 members rather than one member out of 435.

In the letter, Moran seeks financial assistance, and asks for it in rather short order.

In a hand-written section of the letter, Moran added a personal note:

"With Sen. Brownback's decision to not seek re-election, I have gone to work," the note states. "I must demonstrate broad and significant support. Any help, especially before June 30, would be greatly appreciated."

He adds thanks for help in getting him elected to the House.

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How many people received copies of the letter is unclear, although Ellis County Republican Chairman John Pyle is unaware of anything remotely resembling an official announcement.

"I haven't seen it yet," Pyle said when contacted about the June 23 letter.

Neither has state Rep. Dan Johnson, a Republican who is seeking re-election to the Kansas House.

"I have not seen that," Johnson said of the letter. "I haven't talked to him about anything like that lately.

"I wouldn't think it would be a surprise."

"I haven't seen it," said Joe Jeter, a partner in the law firm where Moran once worked. "I haven't heard about it. I can tell you I don't think anyone in the office knows anything about it.

"He's pretty close-mouthed about that."

"There's been discussion about it, but that's been the extent," Pyle said of Moran running for the Senate. "Everybody's trying to figure out who's going to do what."

That question of the upcoming game of musical chairs stems not only from Moran's future plans, but also those of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Sen. Sam Brownback.

Sebelius has served two terms as governor and can't run again. While she's been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate for Democratic hopeful Barack Obama, she's also considered a possible candidate for Brownback's slot.

Sebelius is keeping her plans quiet as well, other than providing a stock answer to the question.

"Right now, she is focused on what she calls the best job she has ever had -- serving as governor of the state of Kansas," press secretary Nicole Corcoran said in an e-mail. "She has a lot to do before her term ends in 2010, and that's what she is focused on right now. She has not talked about anything beyond that at this point."

There's also speculation about what Brownback's plans might be.

He's been mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate, but, like the others, nothing has been confirmed other than his decision not to seek re-election to the Senate.

"Sen. Brownback intends to honor his term-limit pledge," Brownback spokesman Brian Hart said. "Sen. Brownback is committed to doing a good job for Kansas in the Senate and has not made a decision about what he will do when his term ends."

"Then who's going to run for Jerry's seat," Pyle wondered, a position about which there has been little speculation.¬ 

The focus, he said, has been on the Senate and gubernatorial slots that will be open.

"There's all sorts of speculation," Pyle said of the political future for several existing public officials, including Moran. "But it's just speculation, because nobody has made any announcement."