U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., who chairs the Republican National Congressional Committee, was in northeast Kansas today trying to help Republican congressional candidates Lynn Jenkins and Nick Jordan.”They’re both exceptional candidates,” Cole said on his way to an event in Manhattan.Jenkins, the state treasurer, faces U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Topeka, in the 2nd Congressional District race. Jordan, a state senator, faces U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Lenexa, in the 3rd Congressional District race. The 2nd District includes west Lawrence, and the 3rd District, east Lawrence.Both districts have higher numbers of registered Republican voters, and Cole said that will make a difference as the Nov. 4 election draws nearer.”We need to do a good job driving the link between Boyda and Moore and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is well to the left of Kansas voters,” he said. In addition, he said most voters in the two districts will probably support Republican John McCain for president and the re-election of U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan. That, he said, should make it more difficult for voters to crossover and vote for Boyda and Moore.Kansas Democratic Party executive director Mike Gaughan disagreed. “Nancy Boyda and Dennis Moore are successful because they dedicate themselves to representing all of the people in their districts, regardless of political leanings,” Gaughan said.