In the GOP Senate race between two Kansas congressmen, Jerry Moran now has a $2 million cash advantage.
The Hays Republican also raised about $179,000 more than Rep. Todd Tiahrt, of Goddard, in contributions during the most recent fundraising period, as each campaign released its numbers last week.
But political pundits say it’s too early to anoint Moran as a lock to win the August 2010 primary in the heavyweight race to try and replace Sen. Sam Brownback, who is running for governor next year.
“By no means is the race over. Primaries are dicey,” said Bob Beatty, a Washburn University political science associate professor. “Obviously, it’s good to have enough money to run a campaign, but often strategy is more important than money.”
How the campaigns are organized will be key in the race, and Beatty said as long as Tiahrt is able to raise enough money to execute his strategy, it should still be a competitive race in coming months.
“Tiahrt does have to have enough money to be able to combat any contrast or negative ads if Moran were to run some,” he said.
Tiahrt’s numbers also aren’t dismal, Beatty said, at this early stage in the game because so many voters are still undecided. Moran had a 16-point lead in recent Survey USA poll of 475 likely GOP voters in the state, but 30 percent of voters had not yet made up their minds.
Tiahrt also raised more than $300,000 last period.
“We’re not talking chicken feed here. We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Beatty said.
Joe Aistrup, a Kansas State University political science professor, said campaign contributions are like a futures market for donors who are most active in politics.
“There are more people betting that’s he’s going to win, so this is good news for Jerry Moran,” Aistrup said.
Moran likely benefited from his visibility in the state and his frequent appearances outside of his House district, he said, which includes most of central and western Kansas. Both candidates have campaigned quite a bit in Republican-heavy Johnson County in recent months.
Aistrup said the race is still likely up for grabs.
“Money doesn’t always predict the outcome of primary election battles. It’s very important to point that out,” he said.
Comments
nobody1793 7 years, 10 months ago
"It’s too early to call 2010 U.S. Senate race"
Really? Breaking News!
headdoctor 7 years, 10 months ago
To early? It was to late for them before they started. No vote from me for either one regardless.
stlcards515 7 years, 10 months ago
Tiahrt, please, for the love of god, from a republican, go against Brownback and do everything you can to keep him from being governor. Please!
sfjayhawk 7 years, 10 months ago
Begs the question: from whom did he received the $2M and what does he owes them for it?
headdoctor 7 years, 10 months ago
stlcards515 (Anonymous) says… Tiahrt, please, for the love of god, from a republican, go against Brownback and do everything you can to keep him from being governor. Please!
Moran, Tiahrt and Brownback are all pretty much clones. Maybe a slightly different mix of genetic material but the big difference is Brownback has had more exposure to prove he is a butt head. So in the scheme of things isn't it more of a choice of which butt head you prefer? In my way of thinking neither of the three are fit for office.
kusp8 7 years, 10 months ago
Is that the mayor of Greensburg second from left?
Richard Heckler 7 years, 10 months ago
Let's see this is the men from the party that has some quite colorful history. I am kind of wondering why none of them notified the press or the proper authorities about the home loan scandal taking place and why didn't these politicians keep an eye on THEIR white house?
Do they spend too much time on the campaign trail thus allowing illicit activities to have free rein?
Why didn't they keep an eye on Paulson and Bush who were in charge of the bail out money?
Colorful Party History: 1. The Reagan/ Bush Home Loan Scandal = lost jobs,lost retirement and lost medical insurance not to mention loss of homes! And a Wreckanomic economy. http://rationalrevolution0.tripod.com/war/bush_family_and_the_s.htm
The Bush/Cheney Home Loan Scandal = lost jobs,lost retirement and lost medical insurance not to mention loss of homes! And a Wreckanomic economy. http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2009/0709macewan.html
What did Bush and Henry Paulson do with the bail out money? FRAUD! http://www.democracynow.org/2009/9/10/good_billions_after_bad_one_year
Why did the RINO’s Lie About Social Security? DECEPTION AS FIRST STAGE OF SOCIAL SECURITY THEFT http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2005/0505orr.html
Reagan/Bush Iran-Contra Secret Weapons Deal
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reagan/peopleevents/pande08.html
Bush/Cheney Weapons Deals
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/4120/we_arm_the_world/
Nixon Watergate Spy Scandal(Spying on democrats) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/index.html
Bush/Cheney PNAC foreign policy document, "Rebuilding America's Defences," openly advocates for total global military domination. Many PNAC members held highest-level positions in the George W. Bush administration. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Project_for_the_New_American_Century
$9 Billion Lost In Iraq http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/09/60minutes/main1302378.shtml
Thousands of Weapons Lost In Iraq May be Going To Taliban http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/11/AR2009021103281_pf.html
The Hostile Take-Over http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=a_hostile_takeover
Strategic Errors of Monumental Proportions - What Can Be Done in Iraq? by Lt. Gen. William E. Odom (Ret.)
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/odom.php?articleid=10396
Richard Heckler 7 years, 10 months ago
Yes all Washington D.C. insiders who claim to despise big government yet the size of government has never been reduced while under repubs. Certainly has never gotten less expensive.
Starting $3 trillion wars is no way to reduce the size or cost of government.
None of them have taken themselves off the government payroll so maybe BIG government is NOT so bad ????
lounger 7 years, 10 months ago
Oh thank god we live in Lawrence!! This is a sad lot for sure. Im a little freaked about Brownback getting into the big house in topeka but, hey, we all cant be sane....
staff04 7 years, 10 months ago
“It’s too early to call 2010 U.S. Senate race”
Well duh! There's still ten months in which one of them could be caught playing footsy in an airport bathroom or laying pipe with one of his staffers, thereby handing over the race to the other...
Of course, given the Republican history of defending their moral leaders through thick and thin, a scandal would probably increase support.
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