By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

U.S. Rep. and senatorial candidate Todd Tiahrt visited Hays Friday, stepping into the home turf of native son Jerry Moran.

Tiahrt toured Fort Hays State University in his new role as ranking member of a House Appropriations subcommittee that deals with education money.

He did a little political stumping along the way, given that he is now a candidate for the U.S. Senate, vying to replace Sam Brownback in 2010.

Hays, however, is a stronghold for U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, also a candidate for Brownback's seat.

FHSU President Edward Hammond joked about Tiahrt's visit, noting that he is a good friend of Moran's.

Tiahrt made the same observation.

"Jerry's a friend," Tiahrt said of his Senate race. "I'm not running against Jerry. I'm running for the Senate."

Both men are Republicans; Tiahrt is from Goddard, while Moran is from Hays.

Tiahrt spent Friday morning in Hays, meeting with Hays Medical Center officials for breakfast and a late morning visit with Hammond, who offered a tour of the campus after meeting privately.

Covering the heart of the FHSU campus, Hammond showcased buildings that were among the first to be constructed and the renovation that has been undertaken in recent years.

Along the way, he noted that FHSU is the only Kansas university actually created by federal legislation, borne out of a measure that handed over the almost 10,000 acres of land that once was part of Fort Hays. The land was to be used to create a western Kansas university and half was given to Kansas State University.

Friday was the first time that Tiahrt has visited the FHSU campus, although he said he's been by the campus in years past.

His new role as ranking Republican on the labor, health and human services and education subcommittee of the powerful Appropriations Committee was the driving force for his visit.

Any federal education money, he said, must first go through that subcommittee.

"I'm here to help me learn how we can make higher education institutions in Kansas better," Tiahrt said.

As far as the Senate campaign, Tiahrt said the latest polls show him slightly ahead in the race, by a 5 percent margin.

But, he cautioned, the election is still a long way off.

"I'm traveling the state," he said. "I've gotten pretty good responses."

While he was looking at the shape of higher education and health care during his stop in Hays, Tiahrt expected to face the economy when he traveled to Great Bend immediately following his visit.

Great Bend, just last week, learned that it would lose a pork processing plant with more than 250 jobs, part of a restructuring plan proposed by Smithfield Foods.

Tiahrt said he voted against the stimulus plan, because it does too little to stimulate the economy.

Instead, he favored a program to transfer money over to the Social Security Administration and give workers a holiday from Social Security taxes.

That money, he said, would boost incomes, and allow workers to spend, invest or save the money.

Tiahrt had only kind words for FHSU.

"I think Fort Hays State is one of the best kept secrets of Kansas, unfortunately," he said, noting attendance is relatively inexpensive and its "beautiful campus."