Topeka — Fundraising in the Republican Party primary for the 2nd Congressional District shows the classic conservative-moderate split in the Kansas GOP.
Conservatives are opening their wallets to former U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun, while State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins is getting moderates' support.
"This is going to be another iteration of just what we have seen going on in the Republican Party," said Mark Peterson, chairman of Washburn University's political science department. "The conservatives and the moderates in the Republican Party are at war with one another."
Spokesmen for each campaign say their candidates are attracting support from both sides, but that is more the exception than the rule.
Ryun and Jenkins are battling for the right to carry the Republican banner in November 2008 against U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Topeka, who last year defeated five-term congressman Ryun. The district includes western Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan and much of southeastern Kansas.
Ryun's contributors include a "Who's Who" list of social conservative individuals and political action committees.
For example, he received $5,000 from Koch Industries Political Action Committee and $4,600 from James and Cecelia Leininger of San Antonio.
Koch Industries is the Wichita-based corporation headed by the Koch family, longtime supporters of conservative causes. Businessman James Leininger is a well-known supporter of private school vouchers who has spent millions of dollars in campaigns in Texas backing conservative politicians.
Last month, Ryun collected about $15,000 at a Texas fundraiser with assistance from Texas Gov. Rick Perry, according to Ryun's spokesman Kyle Robertson.
"There are supporters there who think Jim Ryun will restore fiscal discipline back to the House of Representatives," Robertson said.
The fundraiser was held at the home of Sara and Jimmy Mansour, an Austin, Texas, businessman and school voucher advocate.
Meanwhile, Jenkins, a two-term state treasurer and former state legislator, is picking up the support of moderates.
This includes $4,600 from Barbara and Steve Cloud of Lenexa. Steve Cloud is the Republican national committeeman who recently was the target of a resolution by the Kansas Republican Party to have him removed from the Republican National Committee. Cloud has often crossed swords with conservative Republicans.
Jenkins has also received $4,600 from moderate Jack Ranson of Wichita; $5,000 each from the Republican Leadership Council and Republican Main Street Partnership; and $1,000 from the Republican Majority for Choice.
Ryun spokesman Robertson described the Republican Majority for Choice, which supports a woman's right to have an abortion, as more like "New York moderates" than Kansas moderates.
But Pat Leopold, a spokesman for Jenkins' campaign, said Jenkins is appealing to a wide range of Republicans.
"Her message of lower taxes and lower spending is resonating. This is a story of Kansans of all stripes coming together to find a candidate that they can support and believe can go to Congress," he said.
Peterson, the Washburn professor, said the two candidates represent different views within the Republican Party of the role of government.
He said Jenkins represents the wing of the party that believes government can be used to help people. As evidence of that, he points to her work to expand Learning Quest, an education savings program that helps Kansans pay for college.
He said Ryun comes from the "Grover Norquist" wing of the party, referring to the conservative activist who has championed for years for less government.
Peterson said Jenkins may also be getting support from more pragmatic Republicans who were disappointed with the way Ryun handled his 2006 election campaign.
Comments
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Kropotkin (anonymous) says…
Ryun doesn't come from the "Grover Norquist wing" of the Republican party. He and Norquist come from the "Jack Abramoff wing" of the Republican party. They should all wear ski masks to work.
WilburM (anonymous) says…
After 15 years of three-party politics in KS, this race dustills all the divisions into one set of contests. Lynn Jenkins, a runaway winner in 2006 as KS treasurer, ought to be able to bring together the GOP, against a disappointing (and highly ideological) Jim Ryun. If she can, Nancy Boyda's troubles escalate; if she can't, KS conservative Rs will face an uphill climb against perhaps the most vulnerable Democrat in the nation. The article gets it right in depicting much of Ryun's money coming from the hard right (a la Kochs). What the piece doesn't do is note cash on hand for the candidates, in that Ryun's fund-raising has been quite costly.
Still, this race is an acid test for the KS GOP -- and it's likely to go from unpleasant to incredibly nasty.
Rtz_t (anonymous) says…
Glad to hear Ryun is running to "restore fiscal discipline back to the House of Representatives," given that he was there for the 10 years our budget surplus disappeared and the budget deficit grew to unbelievable heights. Man I hope he goes back there to continue voting to build bridges to nowhere. That's the kind of "fiscal discipline" Grover is so proud of.
Jenkins is the only hope Republicans have!
nugget (anonymous) says…
Jim Ryun, fiscally loaded, morally bankrupt. A guy that can't figure out it's past his time to toe the line for another race, like the aging athlete that keeps competing too long after his prime. Doing his fund raising in Texas and taking money from the Kochs in Wichita. Talking up those Republican family values to your face while sticking his hand in reverse to take the money of big oil.
I've never in my life donated to a Republican candidate, but Jenkins may be getting some cash from this Democrat.
Agnostick (anonymous) says…
Also indicative of the split: Jenkins appears to be garnering support from the people of Kansas, whom she serves.
Ryun is busy whoring himself out to any other state--Texas, for example--that waves a dollar at his eye level.
Not surprising, though, when you consider that Ryun traditionally squandered his money on the highest-paid staff among the Kansas congressional delegation.
Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com
http://www.uscentrist.org
Baille (anonymous) says…
"There are supporters there who think Jim Ryun will restore fiscal discipline back to the House of Representatives."
Wow, Kyle, ya' think? I mean, Jim Ryun didn't do crap in the ten years he sat in the House. He did nothing. This will be different THIS time? I doubt it.
It is time for Ryun to move on.
jayhawk1977 (anonymous) says…
The "division" is not so much between the conservatives and moderates, but more accurately between Kansans and non-Kansans. The majority of Kansans support Jenkins, both moderate and conservative. Ryun is having a harder time here as we know his history best. Just look at their FEC records.
ASBESTOS (anonymous) says…
As a Kansas GOP member I am embarassed at our "Christian Caliphate" proponents in our party. They are ruining a great party and diverting the party from it's roots ie conservatism!!!
These whacko bible pounders are idiots and zealots that put personal issues before public on every given day. And yes there is a division in Kansas. Look at those approaching the evolution debates, as if scientifically there is one!
They spend all their money on stupid issues such as abortion, but let the illegal alein influx and the strain on state budget and services by said ilegal alien pukes, but do nothing about it. 80-90% of the State of Kansas OPPOSE illegal aliens being in the state. There is a story in the Wichita Eagle about the number of illegally licensed ilelgal aliens and the number of uninsured motorists. The majority of these are illegal aliens.
here is the stories:
http://www.kansas.com/news/story/1520...
Yes and illegal aliens hurting our people and damageing our cars and not paying for wither damage is GOOD for our economy????
http://www.kansas.com/news/local/stor...
15,000 Drivers licenses are issued knowingly by the KDMV that have NO SSNs. Why are these DLs not revoked??????
camper (anonymous) says…
Politics and campaign contributions. Pretty boring stuff. Guess it just ain't my cup of tea.
toefungus (anonymous) says…
Ryun is simply a loser.
camper (anonymous) says…
Toefungus. Ryun is certainly not a loser. Anyone who runs a mile under 4-minutes is no loser in my book. I once ran a quarter mile in 50 seconds or so. Those 50 seconds (mosltly the last 10) were the most painful seconds in my life. It boggles my mind that anyone can keep this pace up for three more laps. Though I disagree with some of his politics, Jim Ryun is a WINNER.