Kansas Gov and Senate Races Up For Grabs

With a week to go before Kansas voters go to the polls, two new surveys indicate both the race for the governorship and the senate are in toss-up territory.

“Democrat Paul Davis leads Gov. Sam Brownback 46 percent to 43 percent, according to the poll, which was paid for by KSN-TV in Wichita. Independent Greg Orman has an even slimmer advantage, 44 percent to 42 percent, over U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts,” according to this report.

While the Republicans trail in both cases, the races remain within the survey’s margin of error. In the Senate race, Orman claims to be running as an Independent; however, he clearly enjoys the backing of the Democrats. He’s also been reluctant to take stands on key issues, or even commit to which party he’d caucus with if elected.

Greg Orman–the “independent” Kansas Senate candidate running with the backing of national Democrats–was asked on October 9 how he would vote on the two abortion bills most likely come to the Senate floor during the next six years (the No Taxpayer-Funding for Abortion Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act).

Ultimately, both races may come down to each party’s ability to turn-out their voters, while Libertarian candidates polling single digits in both races  will likely figure into the results, as well.

Libertarian Keen Umbehr draws 5 percent of the respondents in the governor’s race, with the rest undecided, according to the poll, while Libertarian Randall Batson draws 4 percent in the race for Senate.

It’s also worth noting that the republican candidates appear to have the momentum going into the final week of the campaigns.

SurveyUSA’s analysis states the momentum is on Brownback’s side.

Although the Brownback campaign has repeatedly questioned SurveyUSA’s accuracy, this week spokesman John Milburn had a different reaction. “We agree with Survey USA when they say ‘momentum is on our side.’ We are confident that we will win on Tuesday,” he said in an e-mail.

The Roberts campaign also expressed confidence despite trailing slightly.

“Pat Roberts is going to win this election. Kansans know a vote for Senator Roberts is a vote for a Republican Senate majority,” said Corry Bliss, Roberts’ campaign manager.