Republican candidates met a friendly audience today at the Lyon County Fairgrounds.
Sen. Jim Barnett of Emporia and Attorney General Phill Kline arrived at the Anderson Building just before 1 p.m. aboard the Sunflower Express, the 18th stop on a three-day Victory 2006 Tour through the state sponsored by the Kansas Republican Party. Barnett is challenging Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Kline is seeking re-election.
Barnett, a physician in Emporia, saw many friendly faces in the crowd of about 100.
“I even see the doctor who delivered me many years ago,” he said, pointing to Dr. Charles Hopper of Emporia.
Although Barnett drew a standing ovation when he was introduced, Kline drew his own enthusiastic following as the crowd interrupted his speech several times with applause. He also drew laughter.
“It’s good to see all of you in such good health. Of course, I know that because I’ve got all your medical records,” he said with a smile.
Kline has been criticized for subpoening the medical records of patients who sought abortions to determine whether the procedures violated state laws against late-term abortions and required reporting of child rapes.
Kline was accompanied on the tour by his wife, Deborah, and daughter, Hillary, 14 and in her first year of high school.
“I’m certainly glad the KBI is doing background checks on all the high school boys,” he said, drawing more laughter.
Also alighting from the bus was Tim Shallenburger, GOP chairman. He urged the audience to vote a straight Republican ticket on Tuesday in order to have a Republican governor and Legislature working together.
“We should have beaten Kathleen Sebelius when she ran for insurance commissioner 16 years ago,” he said.
“We should have beaten Kathleen Sebelius four years ago when she ran for governor.
“We should have had a better candidate,” Shallenburger said, drawing laughter from those who knew he ran against Sebelius in 2002.
KansasRadical (anonymous) says...
Shallenburger is an idiot, Kline is an idiot, Ryan is an idiot, and most of these people are an embarassment to the state. Keep them OUT of office.
November 5, 2006 at 10:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )