Dennis Hopper?

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday invoked the name of the actor,1960s icon, star and director of “Easy Rider” when delivering Kansas’ 41 delegate votes to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry during the party’s national convention.

In the short speech, Sebelius named abolitionist John Brown and aviatrix Amelia Earhart as famous Kansans who displayed bravery. She then named Hopper, who grew up in Dodge City, quipping that he was brave for being “Dennis Hopper.”

Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said Sebelius named Hopper as a way to do something funny and out of the ordinary during the oftentimes tedious roll call vote of states.

Later, at a party, Hopper, who in a recent interview said he planned to vote for President Bush, spoke with Sebelius on the phone and thanked her for naming him, Corcoran said.

“He thought it was quite cool,” Corcoran said.