“I’m ready,” Barnett said as he descended in the elevator at the start of the evening. “Either way, we’re ready.”
The “we” tonight includes his wife, Yvonne; his son, Blake, home from New York, and his daughter, Chelsea. And like the senator, they're ready to see things come to a close.
“I think everyone is,” Yvonne Barnett said. “I think he’s run an exceptional campaign. I think today he can be very proud of the campaign he’s conducted. I think he’s gained the respect of people across the state.”
Before he meets a single TV camera tonight, a supporter pops the question — would he be willing to do all this again?
“Oh, yes,” Barnett said.
Among the hometown folks waiting below were Rep. Peggy Mast and her husband, John. They and State Rep. Melvin Neufeld agreed quickly that if the turnout is good, Barnett may have a chance.
“If he doesn’t win tonight, it’s probably the lack of name recognition,” Mast said “It’s difficult to get your message out and who you are with such a short time to campaign.”
Of course, she noted, that wouldn’t necessarily be a problem in a 2010 run.
“If he doesn’t win tonight, I would be disappointed if he doesn’t try again in four years,” she said.
***
Barnett is autographing a T-shirt for a 7-year-old supporter when the first returns come in. They’re not good.
With just six percent of the vote in, Sebelius is already leading by a two-to-one margin. As the two walked down the corridors of the hotel, campaign manager Christian Morgan explains that the Associated Press has called the race for Sebelius.
“Statistically, they work it out and say ‘It’s going to be basically impossible to make up the difference and stay in the race,” Morgan tells him
“Well, we’ll wait to see,” Barnett says.
If the race does end in defeat, Barnett said, some of it may be due to a national backlash against the GOP.
“Nationally, the issues affecting the Republican party may be affecting the state races a little more than we thought,” Barnett said.
In a gathering of friends and family upstairs, his mother, Jean Barnett, is dividing her time between campaign news and the Emporia State University basketball game.
“Mom, you drinkin’ heavy tonight?” Barnett jokes as he walks into the room. “Straight Pepsi?”
“Diet,” she answers.
Win or lose, it’s a good night for Jean Barnett. She had never dreamed her son would go so far — even though her great-grandfather, John Leedy, was a Kansas governor back in 1899.
“No, never!” she said with a grin. “Not in a million years.”
Then her smile grew reflective for a moment.
“It’d be nice if his dad could be here,” she said, referring to her late husband, Edwin Barnett. “He would be so proud.”
***
Back in the ballroom, Emporia school board member Grant Riles has joined the crowd.
“I know Jim well and I’ve worked some in his campaign, so I just wanted to see it through,’” Riles said.
Riles, of course, can remember when Barnett was still president of the Emporia school board. And while there was no hint that Barnett would one day run for governor, he said, “We knew he was a special guy.”
With the returns still coming in against Barnett, Riles thought part of the problem was name recognition and timing.
“It’s just a tough year to run,” Riles said. “And it’s hard for the rest of the state to get to know him like we know him.”
***
Not every Republican is having a tough time of it tonight. In the ballroom, congratulations go out to Republican Lynn Jenkins, who has just been confirmed in another term as state treasurer.
"Once again, I'm just honored by the voters of Kansas," she says. "This is a dream job for a CPA who wants to serve."
"I've had a ball this term," she adds, "and I'm looking forward to serving the people of Kansas for the next four years."
That's followed shortly by a concession, however. In a race that was widely projected to be a nail biter, Attorney General Phill Kline went down to defeat against Democratic challenger Paul Morrison.
But as Kline gave his concession speech, his words were filled with a certain pride.
"There is a quote from a French philosopher -- and I don't read many French philosophers, at least not the modern ones," Kline said. "He said 'The graveyards are full of indispensable men.'
"I have had the honor of standing for causes that will stand the test of time," Kline went on. "They are not dependent on my presence or my involvement. The truth has its own power and marches to its own victory. And nothing prevails against it."