Love him or hate him, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback is on a roll.

In 1994, he was a freshman member in the U.S. House.

Ten years later, the Kansas Republican is in the Senate — filling former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole’s seat — and has approximately $1 million in campaign contributions on hand and a field of cash-strapped challengers who have not held political office and own little name recognition.

On Nov. 2, Brownback faces Democrat Lee Jones, Reform Party candidate George Cook and Libertarian Steve Rosile. Horace Edwards is mounting a write-in campaign.

One of the most conservative members of Congress, Brownback, of Topeka, hasn’t even presented himself side-by-side with his opponents, skipping the only televised debate of the campaign season.

His stances against abortion, for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, and opposition to embryonic stem cell research have made him a darling of socially conservative groups. He also has been in full support of President Bush’s policy in Iraq, and a leading voice to end genocide in Sudan.

Challengers know they have a tough row to hoe against probably the most politically powerful force in Kansas.

‘Too extreme’

Democrat Jones, 53, is on leave from his job as a locomotive engineer and driving across the state trying to get his message across at small gatherings. He has about $53,000 on hand for the end of the campaign.

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“I have been in parades, small towns, bean feeds, and I keep hearing the same thing, even in Republican areas. People in Kansas are upset with Senator Brownback,” Jones said. “They think he is too extreme.”

Jones, of Lenexa, who was a lobbyist for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers from 1991 to 2001 in Washington, D.C., said his political views were more mainstream than Brownback’s.

On health care, Jones said the government could reduce the price of prescription drugs by restricting how much pharmaceutical companies spend on advertising.

Jones said he supported U.S. troops in Iraq but thought the invasion of Iraq was wrong and would like to see an international force engaged in the transition there.

If elected, Jones said, he would vote against extending the Patriot Act, which he believes violates constitutional rights.

He also blames Brownback and the Republican administration for running up record deficits and failing to fund the No Child Left Behind law.

Jones entered the race late when the original Democratic hopeful, Joan Ruff, dropped out of the campaign in March.

In the August primary, Jones faced a political unknown, Robert Conroy, who didn’t campaign. Jones lost, Conroy dropped out and Democrats picked Jones to fill the ballot.

Wedge issues

Write-in candidate Edwards, 79, a retired professional engineer from Topeka, has probably had a campaign profile as high as Jones’. The former Kansas Department of Transportation secretary mounted a petition drive to get on the ballot as an independent, many times collecting signatures along Massachusetts Street.

But the drive fell short, and Edwards now is asking Kansas voters to write in his name on their ballots.

Like Jones, Edwards said Brownback had steered too far right by focusing on wedge issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

“My concern has to do with the positive side of Kansas. What needs to be done is not being done,” Edwards said.

He disagrees with Brownback’s taking a lead role in trying to get an amendment to the U.S. Constitution banning same-sex marriages. Edwards said marriage should be a social contract between people, and the state should continue to administer the civil part of marriage.

‘Drain the swamp’

Brownback disagrees with the notion he is a one-dimensional politician who focuses solely on social conservative issues.

He brings home the bacon to provide research grants at Kansas University, build bridges in Topeka and help the aircraft industry in Wichita, he said.

“I work on a lot of Kansas issues. The social issues, because of their visibility, that gets seen a lot and others don’t,” he said.

If elected, he said, he would focus on the economy, national security and values.

He said he supported tax cuts, and a flat tax rate option in economically depressed areas.

Brownback also said he supported Bush’s foreign policy, adding that the United States was in a long-term battle with militant, politicized Islam. Pushing for democracy, religious freedom and gender equality will “drain the swamp,” he said.

Rosile, the Libertarian candidate, opposes U.S. action in Iraq and says government shouldn’t be involved in saying whether gays can marry.

Cook, the Reform Party candidate, said he wanted to bring U.S. troops home and opposed same-sex marriage and trade agreements that cost American jobs.

	Biographical info:	Party/Political experience:	Key issues:
	Sam BrownbackSept. 12, 1956SenatorWife, Mary; five childrenCatholicBachelor’s in agricultural economics, Kansas State University; law degree, Kansas University4826 Urish Road, Topeka	Republican; Elected to U.S. Senate in 1996, re-elected 1998; served in U.S. House, 1995-96; Kansas secretary of agriculture, 1987-1993.	Tax cuts, economic development, national security and conservative social issues.
	George CookMay 15, 1968Certified armored services technicianMarried, two childrenChristianCertificate for auto mechanics, Liberal Area Vocational Technical5065-4 Lamar Ave., Mission	Reform; Unsuccessful U.S. Senate candidate in 2002	Repeal NAFTA; opposes Patriot Act and other trade agreements; replace federal income tax with national sales tax no greater than three percent.
	Horace EdwardsMay 20, 1925Former president of ARCO Pipe LineWife, Fran; seven childrenFirst Christian ChurchBachelor’s in engineering and naval science, Marquette; master’s of business administration, Iona College5800 SW Turnberry Court, Topeka	Independent, write-in campaign; Former secretary of Kansas Department of Transportation.	Wants to help families; opposes constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
	Lee JonesMarch 10, 1951Railroad engineerDivorced; two childrenMethodistBachelor’s in sociology, Baker University10324 Pflumm Road No. 1321, Lenexa	Democrat; Unsuccessful campaign for 3rd Congressional District seat in 1990; former Washington, D.C., lobbyist for Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers	Increase availability of health care; improve public schools; opposes war in Iraq
	Steven RosileApril 15, 1952ConstructionSingleChristianBachelor’s, Wichita State University; attended KU law school227 Lochinvar St., Wichita	Libertarian; Has unsuccessfuly run for U.S. House in 1992 and 2000; Secretary of State in 1994 and 1998; and U.S. Senator in 1996.	To restore constitutional principles and reduce the size, expense and intrusiveness of government.