Topeka ? Republican Phill Kline touts the endorsements of sheriffs, including a Democrat, in his race for attorney general, but he hasn’t yet gotten one from the leader of his own party, Gov. Bill Graves.

Geary County Sheriff Jim Jensen endorsed Kline Friday. Jensen is a Republican, but the Democratic nominee is Chris Biggs, his county’s prosecutor.

Jensen’s endorsement came a week after one from Wyandotte County Sheriff LeRoy Green. The Kline campaign believes Green’s support could help Kline undercut the Democrats’ traditional strength in Kansas City.

But Graves, a moderate Republican, hasn’t declared that he will support Kline, a conservative.

Kline is a former Kansas House member who championed large tax cuts during Graves’ first term in 1995-98, often criticizing the governor and his administration. But Graves endorsed Kline when he ran unsuccessfully two years ago as the GOP nominee in the 3rd Congressional District.

Graves and GOP gubernatorial nominee Tim Shallenburger had a similar history between them, but Graves endorsed Shallenburger during a Sept. 19 news conference.

Kline spokesman Whitney Watson said his candidate would welcome Graves’ endorsement if it were offered. But he said Kline and Graves haven’t had time to meet.

“It’s really not on the front burner,” Watson said.

But asked if he would schedule a news conference to endorse Kline’s campaign for attorney general, Graves said: “I wouldn’t block out any time in anticipation of that.”

Last week, Kline’s campaign portrayed Green’s endorsement as an antidote to speculation about moderate Republicans bolting conservative nominees Shallenburger and Kline to vote for Democrats. Green is leading a “Democrats for Kline group.”

Wyandotte County traditionally is a large source of votes for Democratic candidates.

“It’s going to help a lot in Wyandotte County,” Watson said. “We’re actually optimistic that we can win Wyandotte County.”

Biggs wasn’t impressed with Green’s endorsement, calling the Wyandotte County sheriff “kind of a maverick.” He said he wasn’t worried.

“Phill Kline is going to need some Democratic votes because he’s going to lose a lot of Republican votes,” Biggs said, referring to the moderate-conservative split in the GOP.