KS-Sen: Taylor drops out

[KCDem]

Kobach's move will amount to nothing. The fact that it will be challenged in court just increases the likelihood that Taylor's share of the vote approaches zero. Roberts is toast.

[KCDem]

If the judge lets Taylor off the ballot but requires Democrats to replace him, could they "nominate" Orman?  Or would that be counter-productive?

Could they "nominate" Milton Wolf to draw votes away from Brownback?

They should nominate a Democrat named Pat Roberts.

[KCDem]

The Democrat's name being on the ballot won't affect anything. He'll win maybe 2-3%. Voters aren't complete idiots and at the very least are aware which candidates are actually running for election. Anyone who votes for Taylor in November is either 1) so out of the loop that they wouldn't know they were supposed to vote for Orman anyway or 2) so blindly partisan that they wouldn't have voted for an independent anyway.

Dan Maes got 11% in 2010. Granted, he didn't drop out, but nobody took him seriously either. Dede Scozzafava got 6% after dropping out and endorsing the Democrat.

Scozzafava dropped out 48 hours before the polls closed. Give me a break.

[KCDem]

I think blaming the Kansas SoS here is wrong. If the KS election law explicitely says that you can only step down as candidate by notifying the SoS that you are unable to serve if elected, then Krobach is only acting according to the law. It's his job.

You should rather expect the Taylor campaign to be smart enough to know the election law and they should have put the "unable to serve" thing into his letter.

Except the letter Taylor wrote was written with the assistance of the Secretary of State's office, implying the Secretary of State knowingly deceived the Taylor campaign.

[KCDem]

Quit arguing, no one cares whose feelings were hurt. Let's continue our discussion on how badly Roberts will be demolished.

[KCDem]

From what I understand, the Taylor-camp now has ca. 4-5 weeks until ballots are printed and sent to polling stations and absentee voters.

How likely is it that a court rules before the ballot deadline and will there be appeals ?

Apparently, it all has to be figured out by September 18. That was a date mentioned by the Secretary of State's office, so take it with a massive helping of salt.

[KCDem]

Phil, the problem is that Orman will caucuse with the majority party. That will be difficult to sell that for the reps as "WE MUST VOTE FOR ROBERTS IN ORDER TO GAIN THE SENATE", don't you think???

That's exactly what this race will come down to: this guy possibly determining who controls the Senate. And everyone is going to know that Orman won't commit to either side yet so, yes, plenty of Republicans that don't care for Roberts will hold their nose and vote for him, not wanting to take a risk. It's a rather easy sell.

Just like Brownback will regain the lead and win. Ok, we're still waiting on that. Could be a while...

[KCDem]

Phil, the problem is that Orman will caucuse with the majority party. That will be difficult to sell that for the reps as "WE MUST VOTE FOR ROBERTS IN ORDER TO GAIN THE SENATE", don't you think???

That's exactly what this race will come down to: this guy possibly determining who controls the Senate. And everyone is going to know that Orman won't commit to either side yet so, yes, plenty of Republicans that don't care for Roberts will hold their nose and vote for him, not wanting to take a risk. It's a rather easy sell.

Just like Brownback will regain the lead and win. Ok, we're still waiting on that. Could be a while...

Less than two months isn't that long of a wait.

He's going to win those undecideds by more than 3-1. He better get a move on!

[KCDem]

"In response to the ruling, Kobach said a separate statute protects the “rights of Kansas Democrats” to have a replacement candidate. He said he would move the mailing date for absentee ballots to Sept. 27 and that the chair of the Democratic Party has been informed she has eight days to select a replacement candidate."

Lol. Or what? Does Kansas law allow the Secretary of State to impose any kind of sanction on the Democratic Party for failing to do so? Because even if the courts were inclined to order the state Democratic Committee to select a replacement, it is highly unlikely that Kobach would have standing to bring any kind of action against the Democrats in court. It's over.

It is over. Kobach is just a moron.

[KCDem]

So aside from not being able to follow the law, the totally serious suggestion (that will likely be followed) is for the KS Democratic Party to just ignore the office that runs elections.

Can't say I'm surprised and I can't say that they've "stooped" this low; this is simply par for the course.

Px: Stop whining, Phil

Good. We're all satisfied here.

But now, seriously... stop whining, Phil.

Haha, could you imagine the head explosion if a state Republican Party pulled this stunt?

"LAWLESS RETHUGS! KOCH BROS!!!"

Not that any of this will matter. Just going to make the Kansas Dems look even more pathetic when Roberts wins.

Can't wait until your smugness gets washed off your face when Roberts get trounced by double digits.

[KCDem]

The debate is what keeps me hopeful that Roberts can pull this off. People like their original perception of Orman - a centrist independent who is fed up of what is going on in D.C., but that isn't really what he is. Roberts needs to keep hammering him - define him. A lot of people still don't know who Orman is.

I still think Roberts is in a better position than Brownback, despite what polls say.

Who are you to say who he really is?

[KCDem]

Good to see the fossil being taken to the woodshed.

[KCDem]

Pat Roberts (R-DC/Ukraine)

Gregory the Gallant will soon send the DC fossil to Chernobyl!

Hopefully the radiation neutralizes him soon.

[KCDem]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDdJwIjTzwY&feature=youtu.be

A PAC has created a Frank Underwood-inspired ad attacking Greg Orman. Kinda clever...haven't heard it on the radio yet.

LOL

Clearly one side is getting desperate

[KCDem]

Anti-abortion voters could save Roberts:

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Typical right-wing spin from the Hill.

[KCDem]

^^^That's one ugly baby.