Topeka ? Former U.S. Sen. Bob Dole on Monday said he will not endorse a candidate in the Republican Party primary for the 2nd Congressional District.

Jim Ryun, a five-term incumbent who lost the seat in 2006 to Democrat Nancy Boyda, said in a speech Saturday that right after his defeat, Dole called him and urged him to run again.

Ryun said Dole told him: “You are the person to win this seat back. I’ll do what I can to help you.” Ryun’s remarks were made to about 80 people gathered at a “miniconvention” of Republican activists from the 2nd District, which includes west Lawrence.

Ryun is running again and faces State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins in the Republican Party primary next August.

After hearing Ryun’s comments, Jenkins’ camp contacted Dole’s office to ask whether Dole had endorsed Ryun.

Dole replied in an e-mail to both campaigns that he did encourage Ryun to run again but that after Jenkins announced her candidacy he decided to make no endorsement.

“I consider both Jim and Lynn to be friends of mine. I campaigned with Lynn when she first ran and we had a great time campaigning on a bus. I was impressed with her then and I’m proud of her record as treasurer just as I am proud of Jim’s congressional service,” Dole said.

He said that he doubted his endorsement would matter “as voters focus on the candidates and the issues” and that he looked forward to campaigning for whoever won the GOP primary.

Dole served as a senator from Kansas from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican candidate for president in 1996 and the GOP vice presidential candidate in 1976.