When Sen. Jim Barnett, Republican nominee for governor, woke Wednesday morning, there were only five days left until the general election. Barnett made every minute and every second count during the busy day, which included stops to three radio stations, two television stations, the Kansas Bar Association luncheon in Johnson County and an interview at campaign headquarters in Topeka.
6:45 a.m.
Barnett is dressed in his shirt and tie and ready for a typical day on the campaign trail. He busily checks e-mail, scans the front page of newspapers for election stories and waits for his wife, Yvonne, so they can have breakfast together.
He fixes himself a cup of coffee and drinks it standing up as Yvonne fixes herself toast and juice. They sit down at the table together for 15 minutes — precious quiet time for the couple.
Since Barnett embarked on the gubernatorial campaign trail, time together for the husband and wife has been so short and often filled with campaign discussion. This morning, they talk about Jim Barnett’s plans for the day, the election and the fact that they’ll actually get to have dinner together later that evening — probably the last dinner they’ll share until sometime after the election.
“Yvonne and I try to find a few hours of time here and there to catch up with each other,” Barnett says.
Since the campaign began, family life has changed, but Barnett says it hasn’t been as difficult on his children as it has been on his wife. Both his children, Chelsea and Blake, are away from home.
“They’re both quite in tune to what I’m doing,” Barnett says. “They both have stayed in contact. For Yvonne, it has been a different environment being married to someone who’s running for governor.
“She has been 100 percent supportive. She trusts in me and knows that I will do a good job for the people of Kansas.”
Barnett said his wife doesn’t have any desire to be the first lady of Kansas.
“There’s not one ounce in Yvonne’s body that wants to be the first lady of Kansas,” he said. “I think that’s why she would be so good.”
7:15 a.m.
It’s time to hit the road. Barnett hugs his wife, tells her good-bye and heads to the campaign car with field manager, Greg Foster who will be driving the entire day. It’s the campaign’s eighth car. They lease a car about every 6,500 miles. With six trips to southeast Kansas and six to western Kansas, the miles add up fast.
Barnett talks about his trips to Western Kansas.
“People are just glad to see you,” he says. “They feel ignored.
“That’s the best part of the campaign, so many people are concerned about the state and for the future of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
During this first leg of the day’s trip, Barnett recalled when he realized he wanted to run for governor — during a special session two years ago on school funding. He realized, he says, that some changes were needed.
“It (deciding to run) was a slow process,” Barnett says. “I knew that it was going to be a difficult race. No one else came forward, so I did.
“At some point in your life you need to do what’s right.”
Before he decided to officially run, Barnett talked to his family, his practice and his pastor.
“I had to sort it out with my family and my partners,” he says.
Looking back, Barnett says he isn’t sorry that he the made the choice to run — no matter what the outcome on Tuesday.
“I’ve been very lucky,” he says. “I don’t look back on things and wish that I had done anything different. I have made so many friends. I wouldn’t trade the experience for the world. No matter what the outcome on (Nov. 7), we’re going to walk away from the campaign smiling and with our chins up.”
7:45 a.m.
Still on the road to Kansas City and Barnett makes the first of several calls throughout the day to his campaign manager, Christian Morgan. Morgan has become Barnett’s manager, friend and sometimes even his personal counselor, the candidate says. And he tells Morgan everything as he feels it’s important for the campaign manager to know everything.
“Sometimes it’s like facing your mother,” Barnett says, with a laugh.
During his phone conversation with Morgan, the two go over the day and talk about an article in the Wichita Eagle about state finances. The article confirms some of Barnett’s figures regarding the slow job growth in Kansas. This conversation will pay off later during an interview.
After his phone conversation, Barnett again reflects on his campaign and how he has handled it.
“I have made a conscious decision to keep this campaign about issues and not personal attacks,” Barnett says from the back seat of the car. “If there’s nothing factual about it I don’t put it in the media.”
8:12 a.m.
Barnett is back on the phone inviting people he knows to a campaign stop Sunday night with President George Bush. After a few phone calls, Barnett picks up his Blackberry and checks e-mails.
He has two different cell phone carriers so he is guaranteed a signal nearly everywhere he goes. Having two phones proves handy on Wednesday when he loses service on one near Kansas City.
“One usually works everywhere,” Barnett says. “But not always.”
As the car continues down the road, Barnett talks about some challenges he and his team have had to face during the campaign. Fundraising is in the front seat.
“We’ve had to raise $1.2 million in less than a year,” Barnett says. “The governor has raised $5 million, but she’s had five years to do it. We’ve been very appreciative of the support we’ve received.”
8:45 a.m.
The car is in the middle of Kansas City’s buzzing traffic as Barnett does a radio interview via cell phone to KFDI in Wichita. The interview includes typical campaign questions — except one.
“My favorite Halloween costume?” Barnett asks, surprised. “My favorite Halloween costume was when I dressed up as a cowboy with a six-shooter and a cowboy hat.”
After a couple chuckles, Barnett answers a question about his victory party should he win the election.
“It would be one of extreme humility,” Barnett says. “The campaign has come through tremendous challenges. We will be humble, but will also be so privileged to have the support of the people of Kansas.”
Barnett hangs up with KFDI and chuckles, as does everybody else in the car.
“It never ceases to amaze me the questions you get asked on the campaign trail,” he says, with a laugh.
9:10 a.m.
Barnett tapes a television spot at station KNBC with Jere Gish, news editor. The spot lasts about 10 minutes. Barnett answers the typical questions regarding his position on various issues including the economy, education and school finance. Barnett breezes through the interview. He has had lots of practice answering the campaign questions by now.
The interview ends, Barnett critiques his performance like all his interviews throughout the day, he notes what he did well and what he should have done better. This critique pays off in his later interviews, when he remembers what he would have liked to say in the last.
9:30 a.m.
Back in the car, Barnett talks about some of his favorite campaign experiences.
“One of my favorite experiences is meeting some of the greatest people I’ll ever know in my life,” he says. “These are people who have no reason in the world to have to support me. They believe in what I stand for.”
10:12 a.m.
Barnett is live on Kansas City radio station KMBZ 980 with talk show host Darla Jaye. Despite differences, Barnett is welcomed warmly and likewise, he is friendly and cordial to Jaye, who criticized him heavily on his views regarding Canadian drugs.
“I’m sorry I was so hard on you,” Jaye tells Barnett. “But I felt I needed to go after you for that.”
Barnett, who continues to see patients in his Emporia medical practice, has said during the campaign that he signed prescriptions knowing that the patient was going to buy the drugs from Canada.
“I have taken care of many, many senior citizens that have no access to prescription drug coverage,” Barnett says. “I have chosen to go ahead and write that prescription. I still do it, and I won’t back down on it.”
11:30 a.m.
Another live radio interview, this time with Steve Kraske of the Kansas City Star on KCUR’s show “Up to Date.” Before his segment, Barnett and Foster sit in the conference room and listen to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius who is in the seat Barnett will sit in moments later. Barnett listens attentively, calculating his next move.
When his turn comes, Barnett sits near the microphone, breezes through the interview and takes advantage of information discussed in the governor’s interview.
12:15 p.m.
During the second half of the day, lunch will have to wait. It’s off to another stop, the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Kansas City for the Kansas Bar Association luncheon, where he will again follow Sebelius at the podium.
Before arriving at the luncheon, Barnett returns to his “office” in the car’s back seat; checks in with campaign manager Morgan and reads e-mails.
And he makes sure he finds time to check on family. He calls his daughter Chelsea, who lives in Kansas City. They briefly check in with each other and talk about the campaign before hanging up.
12:40 p.m.
At Kansas Bar Association luncheon Barnett has the opportunity to catch part of his opponent’s speech. During his time, Barnett is asked whether he will practice medicine when he is governor. It’s a question that has been asked several times this day.
“I’m going to be a full-time governor,” Barnett says. “I can manage my time. I have been driven in the Kansas Senate because I am going home and seeing the issues.”
Following the question-and-answer segment, Barnett heads to the lobby area, where he takes the time to meet with lawyers, shake hands and answer and discuss questions. Barnett’s smile never leaves his face as he greets each person who approaches him.
1:30 p.m.
A rare treat: a sit-down lunch at the Bravo Italian restaurant in Kansas City. This is his wife and daughter’s favorite place to eat in Kansas City.
Barnett orders his usual — a filet and jumbo shrimp with a house salad. Field manager Foster orders lasagna and a Caesar salad.
“Usually it’s McDonalds in the car,” Barnett says as he sits down to eat.
Topics during lunch center around the campaign, tactics and what’s next during the day. Again, no rest for the weary. Every second counts.
Following lunch, Barnett introduces himself to the waitress, who is a bit surprised that she has just waited on a gubernatorial candidate.
3 p.m.
Back on the road and heading to Topeka for the final stretch of the day. The time is again used to multi-task, but Barnett also takes the time to reflect on other challenges that the campaign faces.
“One of the leading challenges has been to compete on television,” he says. “The governor has outspent us nine-to-one. I’m sure it’ll be 10-to-one by the end of the race.”
Barnett also takes the time to compliment his campaign team.
“I have a wonderful campaign team,” he says. “I’m very proud of the team.”
When asked what he would do differently, Barnett points to fundraising.
“The only thing that I feel was somewhat of a personal shortcoming is that I’ve not been as aggressive with fundraising,” he says. “It reflects on my upbringing. I was raised to be self-reliant. Those were good lessons taught to me by my parents.”
Barnett also related the race to a David and Goliath challenge.
“That’s what this race is like,” he says. “That’s why so many have asked ‘Why did you do this?’”
5 p.m.
At WIBW television in Topeka for a live interview on the 5 p.m. news. At 4:52 p.m., Morgan Dreyer, Barnett’s scheduler, applies Barnett’s make-up for his TV appearance. Through grumbles, Barnett’s forehead shine is minimized and he’s ready to go on air.
“He takes it (makeup) right off afterwards,” Dreyer says. “He can’t stand it.”
The interview ends and the first thing Barnett does is head back to the men’s room to take off his make-up.
“I feel better now,” he says, with a smile as he exits the television station.
5:30 p.m.
The group is back on the trail and heading to campaign headquarters in Topeka. Erin Castaneda, a reporter for The University Daily Kansan — the University of Kansas student newspaper — is waiting for her turn to interview Barnett.
The day has been full, but Barnett says this is a light day for them. A normal day starts before 6 a.m. and doesn’t end until after 11 p.m. Emporia is a very good location, Barnett says.
“Emporia is very well-situated,” he says. “You can get to Wichita and Kansas City quickly and on good roads,” he says. “I’ve also come to appreciate small planes and good pilots.”
6 p.m.
Still at the campaign headquarters, Barnett visits with his campaign manager Morgan to plan out the next day, which includes a Republican bus tour throughout the state. Barnett also takes the time to critique his day and talk about what he would do differently. Morgan gives him advice and talks to him about what Barnett will say during President Bush’s visit.
6:30 p.m.
It’s dark outside as Barnett heads back to Emporia on the Kansas Turnpike. He sits in the back seat of the car with his right ankle crossed over his left knee. His briefcase sits on his lap as a makeshift desk.
Barnett reviews some documents sent to him by Morgan on some campaign messages. Barnett recommends changes while on his cell phone and dictating with his Blackberry in the other hand.
Time is not wasted on the way home. Outside it’s dark and by the dome light in the car, Barnett makes cold calls — calling people and asking for their vote. The glow of the cell phone reflects on his face as he speaks.
“Hi, I’m Jim Barnett and I practice medicine and I’m running for governor and I wanted to lend you my ear and ask you to get out and vote and I’d be honored for your vote on Nov. 7,” Barnett tells a potential voter.
6:45 p.m.
The car pulls into Barnett’s driveway in Emporia, the day on the campaign trail is over. Barnett walks down to the mailbox for the day’s mail, then heads inside where Yvonne is waiting to eat dinner with him. It’s the last dinner they will share until after Tuesday’s election.
But after dinner, more campaign work awaits, including e-mail, speeches to double-check and packing for the GOP bus tour that will criss-cross the state.
Every minute counts.