Poll Numbers Look Good For GOP

The poll numbers look very promising for GOP candidates in both Kansas and Texas.


Texas
In Texas, which I now call home, it appears the leadership will remain the same.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry

Republican Gov. Rick Perry leads Democratic challenger Bill White with the start of voting just three weeks away, but White remains within striking distance, according to a poll commissioned by the American-Statesman and four other Texas newspapers.

Among likely voters, 46 percent support Perry, and 39 percent back White, with 8 percent undecided. The remaining voters either back a minor-party nominee or declined to name their candidate of choice.
- Austin American Statesman

The Democrats have considered White, their best hope to win back the Governors office since 1994, when George W. Bush defeated former Governor Ann Richards, according to the Statesman.

Sam Brownback

Currently, every statewide office in the State of Texas is held by a Republican. This political junkie expects it to stay that way, at least for another four years. Even though, I am now registered to vote in Texas (as of 2-weeks ago), I don't know if I will see anything more then campaign commercials.  Which means my decisions will be solely based on my own research and visiting of each of the candidates websites. 



Kansas
Now in Kansas, where I grew up, and where I just moved from. The new poll out, is in regards to every statewide office up for election. The thing about Kansas is that, almost none of the current statewide office holders (with the exception of the two Senators and insurance Commissioner) were elected. The polls in Kansas look promising to the GOP this year, as they look to regain every seat that the Democratic Governor appointed Democrats to fill and even regain the Governors seat.

Governor: U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, Republican, 59 percent; state Sen. Tom Holland, Democrat, 32 percent; Ken Cannon, Reform, 4 percent; Andrew Gray, Libertarian, 3 percent; undecided, 2 percent.
- Wichita Eagle

Neither of Kansas' two Senate seats are up for re-election and it appears that Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Prager will easily retain here seat.

In the race for Secretary of State, which had been held for years by Republican Ron Thornburg, who resigned earlier this year after stepping out of the race for Governor to accept a job in Johnson County.

Kris Kobach, Republican, 53 percent; Chris Biggs, Democrat, 36 percent; Derek Langseth, Reform, 3 percent; Phillip Horatio Lucas, Libertarian, 3 percent; undecided, 4 percent.
- Wichita Eagle

I think it is important to point out that Chris Biggs has never held elected office, although he was appointed Securities Commissioner, eight (8) years ago, after he narrowly lost a close election for Attorney General to Phil Kline (who was defeated four (4) years ago by Democrat Paul Morrison).So, I wouldn't take the Biggs campaign to lightly. On the other hand Kris Kobach, the son of Topeka auto dealer Bill Kobach, has never held elected office either. He is currently a professor at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, and has unsuccessfully run for Congress on several occasions.

In the Attorney General race, where the Democrats took control of the office from Republican Phil Kline four (4) years ago, only to have their "great" candidate forced to resign shortly after taking office, amid sexual harassment charges. Charges stemming from his time in the Johnson County District Attorney's Office. The seat current held by Steve Six, who was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by this resignation.

state Sen. Derek Schmidt, Republican, 50 percent; Attorney General Steve Six, Democrat, 41 percent; Dennis Hawver, Libertarian, 5 percent; undecided, 3 percent.
- Wichita Eagle

Finally, in the race for State Treasurer,

Ron Estes, Republican, 58 percent; Dennis McKinney, Democrat, 37 percent; undecided, 5 percent.
- Wichita Eagle

The State Treasures office, also seen a resignation, since it was up for election four (4) years ago. Lynn Jenkins, who had been re-elected Treasurer four (4) years ago, then ran for Congress two (2) years ago and won. She then resigned the Treasurers seat, to go to Washington. After her resignation, State senator Dennis McKinney was appointed to fill her seat.
Now, if the polls hold true on election day, every one of the appointed officials, will be out of a job. Perhaps, the Governor should have done a better job of finding qualified people to hold these seats rather then playing politics and trying to get Democrats in seats held by Republicans.





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