Dem. poll: Jenkins leads by single digits

An internal poll for Democrat Margie Wakefield suggests her race against Rep. Lynn Jenkins in the 2nd Congressional District may be tightening.

The poll, which was provided to the Journal-World from someone not affiliated with either campaign, shows Jenkins leading Wakefield, 48-43 percent.

Wakefield’s campaign manager, Mark Sump, confirmed they had commissioned the poll by Anzalone Liszt Grove Research, a Democratic firm based in Washington, but he offered no other comment.

Jenkins’ campaign manager, Lee Modesitt, said, “If Margie Wakefield believed her own poll, particularly one inconsistent with what’s out there, she’d probably release the details.”

However, Politico reported Saturday that senior Republican leaders in the House are getting worried about the race and have asked rank-and-file lawmakers to cut checks to the Topeka Republican.

The poll noted, among other things, that Sen. Pat Roberts and Gov. Sam Brownback, both struggling in their own re-election campaigns, are a drag on Jenkins in the 2nd District, which has a higher mix of registered Democrats and independents than the state as a whole.

“Both of them trail by big margins in the district, Brownback by 11 points (52 percent Davis / 41 percent Brownback) and Roberts by 9 points (49 percent Orman / 40 percent Roberts),” the polling memo said. “Given the district’s more Democratic posture than the state overall, competitive statewide contests mean Republicans are losing big in the 2nd CD.”

Pat Roberts’ shutdown threat

Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts threatened on Friday to filibuster all legislation in Congress if President Barack Obama attempts to transfer suspected terrorists being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States.

That statement was reported by The Hill, and it came just one day after Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who many say was the architect of last year’s 16-day partial federal shutdown, campaigned for Roberts in Wichita.

“I stopped him once from trying to send a Gitmo terrorist to Leavenworth,” Roberts was reported to have said. “I shall do it again. I shall do it again, and if he tries it, I will shut down the Senate.”

Obama campaigned in 2008 vowing to close the prison at the military base in Cuba but was unsuccessful. Congress has since blocked his attempts to do so.

Roberts’ statement prompted a series of barbed missives between campaign officials for Roberts and independent challenger Greg Orman.

Orman’s spokesman Sam Edelen posted on Twitter: “Natural leaders don’t excel by instilling fear & cowardice in their people. But does the Senate Bedwetter’s Caucus?”

Corry Bliss of the Roberts campaign fired back with everything but the kitchen sink in an email statement:

“Greg Orman’s campaign should be ashamed of themselves for mocking Senator Roberts’ leadership to prevent Gitmo terrorists from coming to Kansas,” Bliss said. “However, it is no surprise that Mr. Orman would side with Barack Obama over what’s best for Kansas. He is a liberal Democrat who gave money to Obama, voted for Obama, and supports Obama’s policies — including amnesty, Obamacare, and higher taxes.”