KS-Sen: One possible tell as to whether Kansas Republicans actually buy Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's not entirely believable claim that he's "ruled out" a Senate run is if other would-be candidates start taking steps toward bids of their own—and we're now seeing some tentative signs that they may be.
A spokesman for GOP Rep. Roger Marshall, who'd previously expressed interest in seeking a promotion, made it clear that Marshall is still thinking about it but said he's "in no rush to make a definitive decision." However, this aide hinted at a possible timetable, saying that "the first test for any potential candidate will be the level of support they receive on April's report"—a reference to first-quarter campaign finance reports that are due at the FEC by April 15.
That deadline may not prove as important as Marshall thinks, though, since there's only one declared Republican candidate right now, state Treasurer Jake LaTurner. If that state of affairs doesn't change between now and the end of the quarter, they'll be the only two filing reports with the FEC. Both Marshall and LaTurner have also reportedly met with the NRSC, but those meetings took place weeks before Pompeo's recent announcement.
And there's still plenty of skepticism about the secretary of state's intentions. Pompeo still casts a wide shadow over the race, and given his outsize profile, he can afford to wait as as he likes. As one local Republican lobbyist put it, "I don't think anyone will really be convinced until the filing deadline passes." Count us in on that score as well.