Moore decides against run versus Brownback (Kansas)

The Lawrence Journal-World ^ | 3/2/03

[LdSentinal]

Topeka - Congressman Dennis Moore told fellow Democrats on Saturday that he would not run for the U.S. Senate next year.

And Moore's preferred candidate, former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, said he wasn't planning a campaign, either. However, a few prominent Democrats prepared to work on Glickman.

Democrats are looking for a strong candidate to challenge Republican Sen. Sam Brownback in 2004, someone who is known to voters and can raise between $2 million and $3 million in campaign contributions.

As they gathered Saturday for the events surrounding their annual Washington Days convention, party activists were inspired by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' victory last year.

But Moore told a luncheon audience of about 350 people that he planned to seek re-election in the 3rd Congressional District, which covers Johnson and Wyandotte counties and part of Douglas County.

"I looked hard at this," Moore said. "I have decided I'm not going to run for the U.S. Senate."

The audience was quiet when Moore made his announcement, the silence punctuated by a few groans of disappointment. Then, they applauded his decision to seek re-election.

Some Democrats turned their attention to Glickman -- including Moore.

"I could gratuitously suggest that somebody like Secretary Glickman would be a great candidate," Moore said.

Glickman served nine terms as 4th District congressman before Republican Todd Tiahrt ousted him in 1994. After serving in President Clinton's administration, Glickman became director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University.

He received an enthusiastic reception from Democrats when introduced. He had already said he had no plans to run for office, but he also hadn't discounted the idea.

"You never rule anything out in this business, but I'm not planning any campaigning and I'm not raising any money," Glickman said.

Glickman, who spoke Saturday morning to a group of fellow Democrats about involving more young people in the political process, suggested Sebelius' successful campaign could inspire the Kansas Democratic Party to reinvent itself.

But if Glickman isn't going to challenge Brownback, he is likely to disappoint many party members.

Sebelius said of a potential draft-Glickman movement, "I'm ready to push it along."

And state Rep. Tom Sawyer, of Wichita, the outgoing state party chairman, told of Glickman's statements, responded: "Well, the persuasion is going to start."

Kansas Democrats often have trouble fielding good U.S. Senate candidates, in part because of the state's Republican heritage.

Brownback remains a formidable political figure. He raised $2.3 million for his first U.S. Senate race in 1996, when he won the right to succeed Bob Dole, who left Congress to become the GOP nominee for president. The Democratic nominee was Wichita businesswoman Jill Docking.

Moore told fellow Democrats he found campaigning every two years grueling, something that made the six-year term for senators attractive.

But he said he concluded as a representative, "There's more work to be done."

[LdSentinal]

It's too bad Congressman Dennis Moore (D) will not run for the Senate. He would have gotten beaten badly and then the Republicans had a much better chance of capturing his district in a presidential year.

[Holden Magroin]

Why would they hang their hat on a defeated Clinton cronie like Glickman? Brownback will walk all over his opponent.

[Paleo Conservative]

I was hoping it was Michael Moore.

[B-Chan]

Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, Galloping through the sward,
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, And his horse Concorde, He steals from the rich, and gives to the poor, Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore.

Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the night
Soon every lupin in the land will be in his mighty hand
He steals them from the rich, and gives them to the poor
Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore, Mr. Moore

Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, dum-dum-dum, de-di
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, dum, dum-dum-dum-di
He steals, dum-dum-dum, and dum, dum-dum-dum
Dennis-Dummm, Dennis-Deee, Dum-dum-dummmm

Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the woods
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, with a bag of things
He gives to the poor, and he takes from the rich...
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore.

Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, riding through the land,
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore, without a merry band,
He steals from the poor and gives to the rich,
Stupid bitch.

Sorry.

x

[gop_gene]

As they gathered Saturday for the events surrounding their annual Washington Days convention, party activists were inspired by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' victory last year.

This in itself doesn't really mean ANYTHING. Unless Kansas is under unique circumstances or is going to trend democrat, Brownback is safe as can be. Otherwise, the same could be said for other states--since the gop won the governorships in such democratic bastions as Hawaii, Vermont, Maryland et al, then we should be inspired and think we have a shot at winning the senate seats there in 2004?--not likely.

[LdSentinal]

You're absolutely correct. Brownback is safe.

As for Kansas, it's trending even more Republican. Bush won voters under the age of 30 over Gore by a 68%-28% margin.

[DAnconia55]

lol....

And I was just going to ask if he had an lupins.

[Non-Sequitur]

As for Kansas, it's trending even more Republican. Bush won voters under the age of 30 over Gore by a 68%-28% margin.

Trending more Republican? Kansas last went for a Democrat in 1964. How Republican can you get?

[dd5339]

Hey Rat Patrol, you might want to bump the Kansas list with this.

Semper Fi

[JohnnyZ]

Moore read the writing on the wall. Hopefully we can oust him from Congress entirely this year.

[TroutStalker]

Thanks for posting this. I agree with you, Brownback would have kicked Moore's ass, and we would be free from this so called conservative democRAT. Of course, Moore would probably be replaced by a RINO who would be just as bad.

[Free State Four]

so called conservative democRAT.

I hear you! I get so angry every time I hear this media myth, I could scream. Moore should join Barney Frank's socialist club. He's got the credentials for memberhip in his voting record.

Now that I have been properly vented, I think the title should read "Gnat Decides Not To Challenge Gorilla". HAHAHAHA! It would have been fun to see the beating he would have taken.

[Non-Sequitur]

Doubtful. It's not an election year.

[RAT Patrol]

Kansas ping (Thanks, dd5339.)

[JohnnyZ]

Funny.

[RAT Patrol]

Trending more Republican? Kansas last went for a Democrat in 1964. How Republican can you get?

Many of the "Republicans" around here are quite liberal. I'd put the Kansas Republican ideological divide at around 50/50 liberal/conservative. That might be being generous to the liberals. It is hard to say because the liberal Republicans coalition with the Democrats for statewide offices -- and certain districts like Moore's. The RATs will even switch parties for the primary elections in order to pull out a win for the liberal Republican. Left with a choice of the "lesser of two evils," conservatives then vote for the liberal Republican traitor in the general election. When a conservative pulls out a statewide primary win, the liberal Reps -- feeling they own the statewide offices -- throw tantrums and refuse to endorse the party candidate.

There is so much game playing in this state it is tough to say just how many people are in each ideological camp.

So, yeah, we're Republican. But there is so much more to the story.

[axel f]

I still think that if Kathleen (God forbid) wins again in 2006, she'll challenge Brownback in 2010 if circumstances allow it. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I can't help but at least give it some thought. I read an article just this week that said Kansas congressional people in Washington think the only reason Kathleen wants that office in D.C. is to get a launching pad for a senate run.

[axel f]

As for Kansas, it's trending even more Republican. Bush won voters under the age of 30 over Gore by a 68%-28% margin.

I hope you're right. In 2000 at age 23 I'm proud to say I voted for Bush and in 1996 at 19 I voted for Dole.

[AdA$tra]

Fred Phelps has as good of a chance as any democrat when it comes to beating Senator Sam.

[Just mythoughts]

Johnson County, Kansas is one of the richest counties in the country, so the next time you hear Republicans being bashed about the rich, remember Dennis Moore.

One of Bill Clinton's good buddy telephone guys, company takes up a good portion of Johnson County.