Kansas Senate race expected to play to GOP base

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With BC-KS--Biobox-Moran, BC-KS--Biobox-Tiahrt

AP Photo NY127, NY128

By JOHN HANNA

AP Political Writer

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Republicans in Kansas have largely given up on the idea that one of the two veteran congressmen running for the U.S. Senate will drop out and spare the GOP the loss of a star.

Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt are building statewide organizations, collecting endorsements and trying to raise millions of dollars -- crucial early work for the August 2010 primary election. The campaigns released finance statements Wednesday showing Moran with a better than 2-to-1 cash advantage at the end of June.

Democrats don't have a declared candidate yet, so even as the national party does some soul-searching, Moran and Tiahrt are expected to play to the GOP's right-leaning base.

Both are highly critical of President Barack Obama's economic policies and worried about huge federal budget deficits. Both portray themselves as conservatives, and many Kansas Republicans don't see big differences in their views, which could make style and personalities more important.

"One potential way this plays out is out for the very small differences that exist to be exaggerated," said David Rohde, a Duke University political scientist. "Another possibility is for the campaign to be directed at things that are not ideological at all."

Moran and Tiahrt are seeking the seat held by conservative Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, a one-time 2008 presidential candidate now running for governor.

Tiahrt, 58, represents the 4th Congressional District in south-central Kansas, centered on Wichita. He won the seat in 1994, ousting an 18-year incumbent when Republicans swept into power in the House.

He's more closely associated with social conservatives, having endorsements from the Traditional Values Coalition, Family Research Council and anti-abortion group Kansans for Life.

Some Republicans also see him as the more aggressive candidate. This summer, he aired radio and television ads statewide opposing Obama's economic policies.

"Certainly, I'm the conservative candidate," Tiahrt said. "These are things that I think are important enough to risk finances and go out early and try to drive public sentiment."

Moran, 55, won his seat in the sprawling 1st District, which includes western Kansas, in 1996. He has endorsements from Republican Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Mike Johanns of Nebraska, and John Thune of South Dakota and touts his ability to build relationships in Congress to get things done.

At the same time, he bucked former President Bush and fellow Republicans over what he saw as big-government initiatives, including the No Child Left Behind law and creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Tiahrt supported the agency's creation and initially voted for the education law, though he opposed the final version.

Some observers think Moran might be less ready for a tough campaign. He had no major party opposition in four of his seven congressional races and considered but avoided potentially tough races for governor in 2002 and 2006, when many Republicans saw him as their best choice. He contends it's too early to be advertising on television and said intense campaigning should be delayed as long as possible to preserve the Kansas delegation's working relationship.

"Democrats and conservative Republicans share a view of Jerry that he's kind of this nice guy and wishy-washy and unlikely to stand up to the rigors of a really tough campaign," said Burdett Loomis, a University of Kansas political scientist who once served on Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' staff.

But Moran noted he had anticipated facing Sebelius, a popular but term-limited governor, if he won the GOP nomination. Sebelius resigned as governor in April to become U.S. health and human services secretary.

He said he avoided more serious challenges in his congressional races by working hard and making regular tours of his district's 69 counties.

"The suggestion that I'm not battle-tested sounds like I'm up with my feet on my desk, looking for something to do," he said. "People are comfortable with me."

Moran has more money -- $3.1 million to Tiahrt's $1.4 million at the end of June -- in part because he transferred $2.4 million from his House to his Senate account. Tiahrt transferred $1 million.

The most contested ground in their primary is likely to be northeast Kansas, outside either candidate's base. More than one-fifth of the state's registered Republicans, or about 170,000, live in Johnson County, home to affluent Kansas City-area suburbs.

History and voter registration favors the GOP, particularly with Sebelius out of the race. No Democrat has won a Senate race in Kansas since 1932; Obama received 42 percent of the vote in Kansas in 2008.

"I just don't think centrist Republicans will play a big role in the primary," said Andy Wollin, a leader of the moderate Kansas Traditional Republican Majority. "I think the primary will be determined by who wins over the hard core right."

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On the Net:

Jerry Moran's campaign: http://www.moranforkansas.com/

Todd Tiahrt's campaign: http://www.toddtiahrt.com/