"KS-02 could be shaping up to be one of 2006's biggest upsets"

[Mabus]

From http://siegementality.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_siegementality_archive.html

the pundits take notice of ks-02
Over the past few months, Nancy Boyda's campaign to unseat Representative Jim Ryun has gone from impossible to longshot to nail-biter. At first, most observors scoffed when the Boyda campaign released an internal poll showing her in a statistical dead-heat with the former track star. But the deafening silence from Ryun's handlers spoke volumes. A visit from Vice President Cheney raised more eyebrows. Why would the vaunted veep take time out of his busy schedule to help an incumbent in a safe seat, particularly when there are so many recognized endangered Republican incumbents who could use his help? Then Boyda released yet another poll showing the race within her grasp.


Today, well respected political prognisticator Charlie Cook confirmed that a Boyda victory is not the stuff of fantasy. His rankings of the 50 Most Competitive House Races have been expanded to 60, and the Boyda/Ryun matchup slips in at number 59:

With apologies to our editors, we're expanding the list to 60 races. At this point at least that many are in play and, frankly, we could have gone to 75. Part of this field expansion is due to Democrats getting more fired up and therefore coming home earlier in polling. So, for instance, in a place like Kansas-02, the Democrat already has 41 percent compared to the incumbent Republican's 45 percent. The undecideds are probably too Republican for the Democrat to win, but still, the numbers aren't lying right now.

***

Ryun supporters will scoff that barely slipping in to an expanded 60-seat ranking is hardly something to crow about. But they would do well to remember: nobody thought this seat was competitive six months ago. KS-02 could be shaping up to be one of 2006's biggest upsets.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Neat website

Thanks for sharing it.

[Mabus]

3. My brother keeps asking about the race

so I did a search and found it. I like the site too.

[MuseRider]

2. I certainly hope so.

I thought the visit by Cheney was a bellwether sign. The Ryun supporters are coming out in force in the LTTE's of our paper but the Boyda supporters are just as rabid and seem plentiful. Her ads are nice and I see them often. I dunno, I am hopeful but I still have that little fear of being too hopeful.

It has infuriated me how they had not ever even mentioned that we had a congressional race in Kansas, of course we do but our state was always just left blank. I hope to show them all that we should never be ignored.

[Mabus]

4. They only like talking about Kansas when they can bash it/us

Once you start mentioning that we have a Democratic governor and that high profile GOP'ers have defected our fellow DU'ers stop listening. Not only that but we're running more candidates for state offices. We're challenging and are competitive in races that have been GOP strongholds for years. I'm frustrated too. It would be nice if people paid attention to what's going on here. I mean, they like talking about us when the news isn't good but they totally ignore us when we try to make a difference. It is like we're destroying their fantasy world where every one in Kansas acts like Dorothy or cruise around in old trucks while we chomp on wheat stalks and talk about creationism.

LOL, I do hope that one of the biggest mistakes that the GOP-controlled legislature have made is the redistricting. I don't think they anticipated how their gerrymandering would unleash the Lawrence Liberals and get them involved in the race. I know there are a lot of people around here who have had enough of Ryun.

There are a lot of Boyda supporters in west Lawrence. The few Ryun signs I've seen around town are along the usual vacant (developer-owned) fields and other suspect places.

[beyurslf]

5. I love pointing out to the left and right coasters that we have Dem Govs

here and in OK while they all have Puke Govs.

[Mabus]

6. LOL

I've shut a few people up by mentioning that when they are in the middle of their "Kansas is backward" bashing. One time I had some guy from Canada making fun of Kansas who disappeared when I started asking him about his conservative PM.