Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wiggans identifies his political views as “moderate” on his campaign’s Facebook page.
To defeat Sam Brownback in November, Wiggans — because of the GOP’s advantage in Kansas — will need to convince moderate Republicans that he is a better choice to run the state than the U.S. senator with strong ties to the conservative wing of the party.
This would be a page out of two-term Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ playbook. But political pundits say Wiggans, a former pharmaceutical company executive who returned to Kansas this year from California, has a tough mountain to climb.
“He has to show that he is a viable alternative, somebody who can build up enough name recognition,” said Joe Aistrup, a Kansas State University political science professor.
Moderate voters
Wiggans, who announced his candidacy last week, does have Wint Winter Jr., who once represented Lawrence in the Kansas Senate as a Republican, as his campaign treasurer.
He also has made campaign contributions to candidates in both parties, including giving to President Barack Obama’s campaign after he had contributed to the presidential campaigns of Republicans Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and John McCain, the GOP nominee who lost to Obama.
“I think what this shows is a willingness to work with people of all stripes,” said Tyler Longpine, a Kansas Democratic Party spokesman. “That’s what has worked in Kansas for the past eight years, and that’s what we need to keep doing.”
His campaign and supporters, so far, have played up Wiggans’ successful business experience and tried to frame Brownback as a Washington insider who helped contribute to the recent economic problems across the country during his time in office.
Most recently, Wiggans was CEO and chairman of Peplin Inc. in Emeryville, Calif., a dermatology products firm.
“Whether a moderate defines himself or herself as a Republican or an independent, I think they will be attracted to Tom for his business experience,” said Amy Jordan Wooden, a Wiggans adviser. “I think the question for November really becomes: Who do you want getting us through to the other side of this economic recession?”
Brownback has been known for his loyalty to the social conservative wing of the party, and moderate Republicans split from the GOP in 2002 and 2006 to support Sebelius. Sebelius also convinced current Gov. Mark Parkinson to switch parties and run on her ticket.
“I think (Wiggans) is the tailor-made candidate to attract moderate Republicans,” said Democrat Paul Davis, the Kansas House minority leader and a Lawrence resident.
GOP criticism
But in recent months, Brownback’s campaign has focused more on fiscal issues. He has also picked up key endorsements from several influential moderates within the party, including Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh and Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger.
“I think (Wiggans’) business background is attractive. That’s obviously why (the Democrats) have chosen him,” said Praeger, a Lawrence resident. “Sam Brownback is a known quantity. He’s lived in Kansas basically all of his life. While he is certainly more of the conservative wing of the party than I am, I think his focus is going to be on business issues.”
Andy Wollen, a past president of the moderate Kansas Traditional Republican Majority, said he was “cautiously optimistic” because Brownback has been focusing on the economy so far during his campaign.
The state GOP last week criticized Wiggans for never voting in the state. Wiggans grew up in Fredonia and graduated from Kansas University, but he recently moved back to Olathe after a long absence from the state.
“Sam Brownback is certainly vulnerable among moderates, but I don’t think Democrats have come up with a good person,” Wollen said.
Aistrup said Wiggans has some positive qualities and his campaign will be able to play up his business experience.
“His problem, though, is that people don’t know who he is,” he said.
Other challenges
Jordan Wooden said Wiggans has spent the last couple of years talking to people across the state. She said he also has experience working with the bioscience industry in the state in an aim to try to create future jobs.
Wiggans will need to court moderate and independent voters to defeat Brownback, but Democrats also have questions about him.
Skye Coleman, vice president of the Kansas City Young Democrats, says he sees benefits to Wiggans as a candidate, particularly because he can likely finance his own campaign.
But he also said he had reservations when seeing some of Wiggans’ past campaign donations to Republican candidates. The video announcement on his campaign Web site also did not lay out his stance on issues.
To excite the Democratic base, Coleman said Wiggans should come out as a strong advocate for health care reform, public school funding without ruling out raising taxes and focusing on developing renewable energy.
“If we don’t hear them, we’re not going to work hard for him,” Coleman said.
Comments
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merrill (anonymous) says…
The entire economy is in turmoil due to Washington D.C. fraudulent activities in which some big name people likely should be headed for prison as yet are not.
Shouldn't the republican party be in prison as an accomplice for failing to control THEIR party members? How can anyone vote republican ever again? Beginning in 1980 to present wrecking the USA economy and robbing financial institutions seems to have been well organized.
Why don't the USA citizens rise up and demand investigations and prision sentences instead of buying into the concept of " we must move forward" and not dwell on the past?
Why should big name politicians never be prosecuted yet a local bank robber goes to jail for years? The local bank robber did not wreck peoples retirement funds or put millions of USA citizens out of jobs?
What are the priorities of USA citizens? Why do WE allow elected officials to talk WE the citizens out of prosecuting appointed and elected officials?
Below is a well established pattern of events. People should be investigated,indicted,prosecuted and sent to prison.
Isn't it odd each time our nations financial institutions crumble there are Bush family near by and a McCain still in office?
Who has history with financial institutions going south such as the savings and loan scandal? Republicans!
About the Bush/Cheney/Greenspan/Bernake fraudulent home loan scandal:
http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archiv...
About the Bush/Reagan Home Loan Scandal(home loans)
http://rationalrevolution0.tripod.com...
McCain: The Most Reprehensible of the Keating Five. The story of "the Keating Five" has become a scandal rivaling Teapot Dome and Watergate ...
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1989-1...
Voters should NOT forget the past. Again shouldn't the republican party be in prison as an accomplice for failing to control THEIR party members? How can anyone vote republican ever again? Beginning in 1980 to present wrecking the USA economy and robbing financial institutions seems to have been well organized.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Food for thought...
The Kansas democratic party should be very very careful before jumping on any band wagon. Remember Jim Slattery who was given the red carpet treatment in spite of another person who had chosen to run. Jim Slattery turned out to be the wrong choice.
I remember this person who has not been given the light of day from the party....so it seems.
Lee Jones for Governor - Hey Kansas democratic party how about Lee Jones for Governor?
Jones, 53, is a Lenexa locomotive engineer and has served over a decade advocating family issues for his railroad union in Washington D.C. Lee Jones campaigned on restoring a sense of moderation, tolerance and true compassion to our federal government. "I think my positions are more in line with what the average Kansan cares about," Jones said. Jones had taken a leave of absence to focus full time on his campaign.
Jones was defeated by former Rep. Jim Slattery who brought with him plenty of baggage such as being a former politician and full time lobbyist.
Pat Roberts also brought plenty of baggage including tons of special interest money even more than Jim Slattery could raise. In the end a famous name and the biggest spender won. Why is the question? This does not serve well for the voter/taxpayer.
Jill Docking threw her support behind Jones.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Lee...
merrill (anonymous) says…
One day democrats are going to need to get on board with new names and faces instead of only supporting the same old faces and names.
The pharmaceutical industry is against change in medical insurance and are spending big bucks against the movement....have been for some time.
People like Sen Sam Brownback bring lots and lots of special interest money with them so will do nothing to improve or clean up Kansas politics. Republicans have not done well on creating jobs for the nation after the global economy plan(Reagan-Bush) began shoving USA jobs out of the country = USA economy in turmoil.
New people want to run for office yet are not a famous name and/or former politician with lots of special interest money. Is this not enough excitement? It's more like too bad for good new candidates.
The party and voters need to wake up and support new faces in a big way. Same way with local elections. The big spenders win which more often than not spells business as usual. Nothing changes.
BigPrune (anonymous) says…
A "moderate" Republican in Kansas is another name for a Democrat running for office as a Republican = RINO (Republican in name only). Wint Winter fits that definition, as do quite a few other "Republicans" here in Kansas.
Haven't we already had enough of our freedoms removed by the democrats in this country?
snap_pop_no_crackle (anonymous) says…
The linkbot has woken. Fear his mad copy/paste skillz.
kansastruthteller (anonymous) says…
"He also has made campaign contributions to candidates in both parties, including giving to President Barack Obama’s campaign after he had contributed to the presidential campaigns of Republicans Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and John McCain, the GOP nominee who lost to Obama."
This is simply hedging his bets ensuring that regardless of who wins he could say he contributed to them. Special interest groups do it all the time because they don't want to risk backing a losing candidate.
It isn't a special talent of working with both sides as the article suggests, just political business as usual.
getreal (anonymous) says…
Senator Sam Brownback is who he has always been, a vote for every policy that gave us the Bush Recession.
What is disappointing is for moderates like Sandy Praeger (who I have consistently voted for, but NEVER again) to act as if his voting record in the U.S. Senate means nothing. Votes against schools, votes against civil rights, votes against women, votes against the stimulus package that is keeping the state afloat. So in the end these people who have portrayed themselves as moderates are nothing more than power hungry politicians willing to throw their values out the door for a seat at Sam's table. Maybe he'll ask Sandy to clear the table for him and his cronies and wash the dishes.
Then four years from now all the moderates will be crying because the conservatives broke all their promises. You reap what you sew. Thanks Commissioner Praeger for selling out women all over this state.
Sulla (anonymous) says…
Republicans are RINOs because they do not represent the 'Republic'("what's that? another liberal shenanigan word?") but are Christocrat/outsourcers/corporate feudalists and would just as soon go for a monarchy as long as a WASP sits on the Throne and leaves this *free market* alone(corporations)....the Dems are for many special interest republics within the nation in the name of *multiculturalism* and other cultural bolshevik tripe. Both are roughly the same when it comes to political economy. ..
leedavid (anonymous) says…
Why do democrats pose as moderates to get elected, then jump to the left to become who they really are? You would think they would know if your values are so strange you have to change them to run for office, you just might be wrong to begin with.
Dems are going to lose big, nationwide, in 2010 because of this.
Bob_Keeshan (anonymous) says…
Sam Brownback has lived in Kansas his whole life?
Funny, seems to me since 1995 he has lived in Washington, DC.
As I recall, that's the experience he keeps touting - his vast experience in Washington, DC. He's right, he is definitely a Washington, DC insider.
I'd rather have somebody who just recently moved to Kansas from the moon than a guy who has been happily living in Washington, DC. Yup - Happily living there and telling us to vote for him because he's been so "successful".
63BC (anonymous) says…
Getreal:
"You reap what you sow."
Not "what you sew."
Bob_Keeshan
Yes, Brownback has lived his whole life in Kansas. And he has always voted in Kansas, something the carpet-bagger has never done. Not once.
Since 1995, Brownback has commuted to his job in Washington because the people of Kansas voted for him...something they are preparing to do again.
My question is, if the other guy thinks Brownback is so bad, how come he never bothered to vote against him or contribute against him? Maybe he doesn't really care much about Kansas, except when he wants to run the place.
Hi, I'm new here. Make me Governor. Sheesh.
verity (anonymous) says…
Then there will be the "anybody but Brownback" vote.
classclown (Class Clown) says…
63BC (Anonymous) says…
Getreal:
“You reap what you sow.”
Not “what you sew.”
===============================
You reap what you sow, and you sew what you rip.
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
"Why do democrats pose as moderates to get elected, then jump to the left to become who they really are?"
Actually, most Democrats tend to move to the right once elected, because that's what the big corporate money they need to run reelection campaigns expects of them.
And Wiggans's history indicate that he is a DINO, not a RINO.
Jimo (anonymous) says…
A “moderate” Republican in Kansas is an oxymoronic way of just saying Republican, that is, the Republican wing of the Republican Party, proud descendants of Lincoln, McKinley, Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Reagan.
situveux1 (anonymous) says…
I notice the reporter failed to mention Wiggans contributions to George W. I guess those didn't fit into the story line that his contributions are philosophically based instead of greed based. He's a drug company executive. Isn't this the same kind of person the Democrats are trying to crucify in Washington?
merrill (anonymous) says…
Brownbacks team aka republicans are out working for him as we speak:
Kansas State Republican Representatives Peggy Mast and Brenda Landwehr, along with State Senators Mary Pilcher-Cook, Jim Barnett, and Tim Huelskamp, have been running around the State promoting some unbelievably mean-spirited health care legislation.
On the bus with Americans for Prosperity (a front group for the Koch billionaires), this band of “right to lifers” have been introducing a draft of their “Health Care Freedom” amendment, a decidedly “anti-life” proposal.
Essentially, this proposed constitutional amendment would prevent the implementation in Kansas of any health care bill that comes out of the U.S. Congress.
We need to be all over this one! No matter what comes out of the Senate today and is eventually worked out with the House, the battle for decent, affordable health care is just beginning.
How do we know a person from the pharmaceutical industry that which opposes health insurance reform would not support this?
Centerville (anonymous) says…
Oops...small problem. He still hasn't returned. And he's having problems picking up the RINO nitwits who gave us Sibilius.
Centerville (anonymous) says…
Oops...his email to supporters says he's running for Senate (which Senate, I don't know and probably neither does he).
Has any reporter (I know, stupid question) actually contacted him in California and asked him if he knows he's a candidate for office in Kansas?
Boston_Corbett (anonymous) says…
So Merrill, keep on typing.....who you gonna vote for? Brownback?
This is sooo funny.
RKLOG (Mark Andrew) says…
Just wanted you all to know that the Space Shuttle's launch schedule is up and running just in case anyone here gets homesick.
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highligh...
WHY (anonymous) says…
Every time I see a post by Merrill I just skip it and move on to the next post. No big deal. If it makes him happy to post stuff no one reads then just let him have his fun.
BigDog (anonymous) says…
Why has LJ World only bothered to mention his campaign contributions in the last election and not previous elections? Was 2008 the first time Tom Wiggans has made campaign contributions?
Any funds to US Congressmen or US Senators from Kansas?
Previous Presidential campaigns?
monkeyhawk (anonymous) says…
Really, how is merrill any different from the spambot that tells you where to get low cost health insurance immediately after any story having to do with health control?
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
"I do too, just getting sick of its desperate need to control the board."
It looks to me that you are the one trying to control the board.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Just for the record Wiggans is no stranger to Washington D.C. as his lobbying before the Ways and Means Committee for capital gains cuts do reveal.
In reality he is a politician.