A new poll from Gallup this morning has some troubling news for ultra-conservative Kansas Republicans:
The GOP remains dominant in Kansas, but the percentage of people in that state who identify with the Republican Party is at its lowest in five years, a new poll finds.
Fewer than half of Kansans, 47 percent, identify as or lean Republican, compared with 52 percent last year, according to data published by Gallup on Friday.
Frankly, this poll reaffirms trends we've seen in the state:
100+ Kansas Republicans split from the GOP to endorse Paul Davis for governor, former Senator Nancy Kassebaum Baker
refusing to film an ad for Pat Roberts (R-VA), and the fact that recent polls show Kansas Republicans could go
0-for-3 in the races for governor, U.S. Senate and secretary of state.
Of course, we reached this point after Governor Sam Brownback turned Kansas into a "conservative hell," cutting $200 million from education and shredding the economy, leaving a $687.9 million loss of revenue and a $300 million budget shortfall. You can thank those conservative Republicans for implementing the tax breaks they've long pined and campaigned in Kansas. Just think of the damage nationwide if people like Paul Ryan get their way.
For moderate and progressives, we have a real opportunity to make some serious headway in Kansas. Yes, we're up against the likes of the Kansas-based billionaire Koch brothers and their endless supply of money to influence elections and policies. But, we have something they don't have—a small dollar people-powered party. Thanks to readers like you, we are closing in on nearly $30,000 in contributions to Jean Schodorf, the Daily Kos-endorsed Democratic challenger to Kris Kobach, the worst secretary of state in the nation. Can you imagine that? Nearly $30,000 in a down-ballot race in Kansas? YOU are making an impact.
So, let Kansas Republicans continue to bring in the likes of half-term, half-wit former Governor Sarah Palin. This new Gallup poll shows they really aren't doing themselves any favors. We'll focus on what we do best—building a strong grassroots base to bring sanity back to Kansas.
With one month to go until election day, we still have a lot of work to do. Can you chip in $5 to help elect Jean Schodorf and put another nail in the Kansas GOP coffin?