Ex-US AG Ashcroft visiting Kansas for Tiahrt

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) -- Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is visiting Kansas to help boost fellow Republican Todd Tiahrt's (TEE-hart's) U.S. Senate campaign.

Tiahrt scheduled a news conference Friday with Ashcroft at the Doubletree in Overland Park.

Ashcroft, a former two-term Missouri governor and senator, served as attorney general under President George W. Bush.

Tiahrt, a congressman, has represented the 4th District of south-central Kansas since 1995.

He's locked in a tough race for the Republican Senate nomination with fellow Rep. Jerry Moran, who has represented the 1st District of western and central Kansas since 1997.

The GOP primary is in August.

The only declared Democratic candidate is Charles Schollenberger, of Prairie Village, a former newspaper editor and reporter.