By Gayle Weber, FHSU
DENVER -- More Democrats than ever before are registering to vote in the state of Kansas.

While Kansas Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson doesn''t know when that trend will end, he said it is giving both the state and party momentum in local and national politics.

"At this point in history, the Republican Party just got too extreme," Parkinson said. "We need to figure out a way to get middle-of-the-road."

Parkinson, a former Republican who switched parties in 2006, said the trend was brought on by local politics.

"I think the tipping points are over the State Board of Education attempting to teach creationism in the classroom (and) Attorney General Phill Kline''s (subpoenaed) medical records of young women," Parkinson said.

Along with more registered Democrats, Parkinson said there are many politicians like him who are switching parties to run as a Democrat for public office.

During the Democratic National Convention, Democrats, and particularly the apparent presidential nominee Barack Obama, will be trying to pick up Republican votes. Parkinson said there are two main points that Obama will need to address in order to do that.

"He needs to convince Americans (that) he and his family are normal Americans and a normal American family," Parkinson said. "Michelle Obama''s speech (Monday) went a long way to doing that."

Parkinson said Obama also will have to overcome critics of his experience.

"There continues to be a misgiving about if a 47-year-old man who has only been a U.S. senator for four years (is) ready to lead," Parkinson said. "Certainly, we have examples of that. John Kennedy was younger. Bill Clinton was the same age."

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was rumored to be on the short list for the vice-presidential nomination, and after not getting it is thought to be a shoo-in for a Cabinet position should Obama win the election.

"My hope is that she stays on as governor," Parkinson said. "If she is given the opportunity that she feels . . . is a better opportunity, I''ll support her."

Though he made no commitments toward running for governor of Kansas when Sebelius'' term expires in 2010, he did say he would consider it.

"I''ll evaluate it after the November election, and I''ll make a decision quickly," Parkinson said.