Topeka ? Just when Republican candidates for governor were tripping over themselves to get out of the race, new candidates are emerging.

Kris Kobach, a lawyer and former GOP 3rd District congressional candidate, has a poll to test his chances in a matchup with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat who is expected to seek a second four-year term next year.

Kobach failed to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore in the last election. Moore represents the district that includes east Lawrence.

Another new name is Air Force Gen. Richard Myers who, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the top military official in the country and a key leader in planning the war in Iraq.

Myers, a graduate of Kansas State University who grew up in the Kansas City, Kan. area, is expected to retire from his post next month.

And state Sen. Jim Barnett, of Emporia, is considering a run, according to Kansas Republican Party executive director Derrick Sontag.

Former state House speaker Robin Jennison, of Healy, recently announced he will seek the GOP nomination. The current House speaker, Doug Mays, of Topeka, also is running.

State Sen. Derek Schmidt, of Independence, has kept his name in the mix as a possible candidate.

Others who have filed for the campaign are two frequent political candidates, lawyer Dennis Hawver, of Ozawkie, and Richard Rodewald, of Lawrence.

“The field is very much in flux,” Kobach, a law professor at University of Missouri-Kansas City, said of the governor’s race.

He said his polling showed that Sebelius “is obviously very vulnerable” but that the key for Republicans is to find the right candidate to match up against her.

He said he doesn’t know yet if he is that candidate.

A possible draft movement to get Myers to run has been mentioned recently, with U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., reportedly involved in the effort.

Brownback’s office did not return a telephone call for comment. An e-mail to Myers was not returned. On Friday, Myers was defending the military’s efforts in responding to pleas for help in hurricane-damaged Louisiana, according to reports.

Up until now, the GOP field has been noteworthy as much for who declined to run as for who decided they would take a chance.

U.S. Rep. Jim Moran, of Hays, who was seen as the best candidate to appeal to the conservative and moderate wings of the party, declined to run.

Brownback, Atty. Gen. Phill Kline, Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun, of Lawrence, and State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins have all said no to the upcoming governor’s race.

Mel Kahn, a political science professor at Wichita State University, said Sebelius will be difficult to beat.

“Sebelius will draw heavily from many Republican voters,” Kahn predicted.

Nicole Corcoran, a spokeswoman for Sebelius, declined to respond to the GOP jockeying.

“It’s way too early to talk about an election, especially when the real issue on her mind, and that of Kansans, is helping those devastated by Hurricane Katrina and how to make sure we are well prepared should disaster strike our state,” she said.