New York ? Republican challenger Kris Kobach said Monday that Democratic Rep. Dennis Moore “placed American citizens at risk” by voting against a proposal to allow troops to patrol U.S. borders.

Kobach gave a 47-second speech to the Republican National Convention as part of a lineup of congressional candidates from across the nation. He also touted his service as a former U.S. Justice Department official.

Kobach has said Moore’s voting record on security issues shows that Moore, who is seeking a fourth term, is too liberal for the 3rd District, which covers Johnson and Wyandotte counties and part of Douglas County. Moore has disputed that claim.

Kobach focused on a vote Moore cast in May against a proposal allowing the secretary of defense to assign troops to patrol U.S. borders to fight drug trafficking and illegal immigration and prevent terrorists from crossing.

“How many terrorists will enter the United States before my opponent realizes that we must close the border to terrorists?” Kobach said.

Kobach said if he elected, he would “close the door to terrorists who abuse America’s open borders.”

A spokeswoman for Moore, Christie Appelhanz, said Moore’s vote was based on concern that U.S. forces already were “stretched too thin.”

“Congressman Moore believes it is a better idea to put personnel on the border who are specifically trained in border security,” Appelhanz said in a written statement.

“The real issue,” she added, “is that Kris Kobach favors shifting troops from defending our nation to use them in routine law enforcement. It is bad for our defense against terrorism and bad for our domestic security.”

Kris Kobach, a candidate for the 3rd District congressional seat in Kansas, speaks to the Republican National Convention in New York City. Kobach, who is trying to unseat Democratic Rep. Dennis Moore, gave a 47-second speech to the party faithful Monday.

Brownback to speak

Another Kansas candidate, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, is scheduled to address the Republican National Convention at 8 p.m. today.

In Lawrence, the speech is expected to be carried live on PBS and C-SPAN, Sunflower Broadband Channels 7, 11 and 27.

Brownback is running for re-election to his second full term in the Senate. In the November general election, he will face Democrat Lee Jones, 53, a railroad engineer from Lenexa and former lobbyist.

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