TOPEKA, Kan. — President Trump is normally very outspoken on his opinions and endorsements, but the President has been oddly quiet about the competitive U.S. Senate race in Kansas.
The top four republican U.S. Senate candidates are Kris Kobach, Dr. Roger Marshall, Bob Hamilton and Dave Lindstrom, with democrats Barbara Bollier and Robert Tillman also in the race. All four republican candidates have expressed their complete support for President Trump, but it sounds like the President is not likely to do the same.
President Trump has apparently told associates that he will not be endorsing or weighing in on the Kansas Senate race. But in other states, the President is quick to show his support for conservative candidates. On Friday, he tweeted support for a Senate candidate in Tennessee and Congresswoman in Indiana. So why is the Kansas race different?
According to political analyst Dr. Bob Beatty, the president is being pulled in two different directions. Candidate Kris Kobach has long supported Donald Trump, even before his election to President. Beatty says the two have a close relationship, while the other candidates do not.
“There’s really nobody in Kansas, really, that’s closer to Donald Trump than Kris Kobach. I mean he has this extensive relationship, said Dr. Beatty. “So, this is a personal decision for Donald Trump.”
But, on the other side, Dr. Beatty says it’s a political decision.
“Many republicans in D.C. are showing Trump polls saying that Kobach would lose in the General Election,” explained Beatty.
According to Beatty, top republicans think the best option to beat the democratic candidate in November is Dr. Roger Marshall. Therefore, they are pushing the President to endorse Marshall to avoid potentially losing an important republican seat in the U.S. Senate. Even political action committees (PACs) with ties to the Democratic Party are putting out ads supporting Kobach in the primary election because they believe democratic front-runner Barbara Bollier could beat him in the general election.
For now, President Trump is choosing to stay silent on the race, but Dr. Beatty says it wouldn’t be unusual for the President to make a last minute endorsement before election day on Tuesday.
“A last minute endorsement by Donald Trump could swing a close race,” added Beatty.
