Posted on 04/03/2007 4:10:29 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
LAWRENCE, Kan. | Former Rep. Jim Ryun, upset by Democrat Nancy Boyda in last year’s 2nd Congressional District election, says he is already raising money to run again in 2008.
And while Ryun said his campaign fundraising will “turn some heads” when a finance report is released April 15, some Republicans say Ryun may have to defeat challengers in his own party.
Ryun, a five-term incumbent congressman from Lawrence was defeated by Boyda in 2006, despite appearances by President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to shore up his support. Boyda’s win was one of the biggest upsets in 2006 as the Democratic party surged back into control of Congress.
But Ryun, of Lawrence, said he is confident he can win in 2008.
“I’m the first one to admit I ran a lackluster race,” Ryun said of the 2006 campaign.
Boyda’s spokesman, Thomas Seay said, “Honestly, 2008 is still a long way away. Our office is focused on serving our constituents, not on politics.”
Some Republicans suggest Ryun might have trouble overcoming the upset loss to Boyda.
“Jim is going to have some challenges because he has the baggage of having lost one,” said state Sen. Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, who is considering running for the congressional seat.
Because the national and Kansas Republican Party are targeting Boyda for defeat in 2008, other Republicans say they will consider running, even if Ryun is back in the race.
“I will continue to look at the race over the next month or so to gauge support,” said state Rep. Lee Tafanelli, R-Ozawkie. “If we feel we’re the right candidate, we’ll do that.”
State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, of Topeka, also said she is seriously considering running for the 2nd District seat, which includes west Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan and much of southeast Kansas.
“What we have to do is nominate a strong candidate. There is the concern among some Republicans that when they (voters) said no, they really meant it,” Schmidt said, referring to Ryun’s defeat.
Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University, also Boyda would have some advantages in a rematch.
“There are probably some in the Republican Party who believe a new face might have a different angle that could be successful against Boyda,” he said. “If Jim Ryun opposes her, she looks in the camera and TV ads and says ‘Here’s what I said I was going to do and I did it, and we don’t need to go back.’”
Boyda will never be as vulnerable as she will be in her first re-election campaign. For the GOP to take back this seat, it will require a new face to challenge her, and it's important for our GOP party head to show some leadership and get everyone to unify behind a single candidate before the primaries. And it's important for Kobach's own ambitions that he lead the charge to take back Kansas 2nd. I just hope he doesn't blow it.
*ping*
Although it’s Ryun’s honor to seek a rematch, I do have my concerns about his candidacy. He might be able to win it back, but I only put it at 50-50. The question is whether we could find another strong Conservative for this seat. Lynn Jenkins is a pro-abort RINO, and that’s a no-go.
What is it with Republicans with questionable financial dealings seeking re-matches? First Taylor and now Ryun. Didn’t they learn anything from Dornan or McEwen?
Heck, McEwen just tried to make a comeback in 2006.
Once these guys get Washington in their blood, they are infected forever.
McEwen was such a “conservatvie fighter” that he had to challenge Jean Schmindt in a safe GOP seat. McEwen wanted to get back into Congress so he could bounce a few more checks.
The problem with that safe seat is that there are a plethora of other Republicans who want to fill it.
Look for “Mean Jean” to face yet another primary fight in 2008.
I don't know the 2nd well enough to know who the potential candidates are, but the important thing is to get the party united behind one candidate, avoid a destructive primary, and present a united front against Boyda. A job for our new state GOP chair, if he's up for it.
“Look for “Mean Jean” to face yet another primary fight in 2008.”
Now that would be great.
Of course for residency sticklers I think his residency is in Chabot’s (OH-1) district.
As you probably know, the only constitutional residency requirement for the U.S. House is that the Representative must be a resident of the state he represents, but you’re right that if Blackwell lives in the West Side of Cincinnati he wouldn’t be able to vote for himself (and his opponent(s) would make hay of that fact).
Let me paraphrase a long-popular song:
“He (Ryun) blew it before, and he will blow it again.”
Republicans have lost this district with defective candidates in the past (during the late 1970’s, there was a Congressman Jeffries who delivered this seat to Jim Slattery for 12 years). Right now, the best candidate for Republicans would be former state House Speaker Doug Mays. Lynn Jenkins is far from perfect, but at least she would win the general election.
“Didn’t they learn anything from Dornan or McEwen?”
A lot of Congressmen, regardless of party or ideology, come to regard membership in Congress as an entitlement, not a service. And the prospective candidacies of Ryun and Taylor is proof of that.
The now governor Ted Strickland for living in Columbus, not in his congressional district.
Bob McEwen for his residency problems.
Republican Congressman Paul Gilmor for living in a Columbus burb, not his district.
While we all love Ken, we really don’t want to be hypocrites.
I'm not totally sure where Ken lives.
One last thing:
If Bob McEwen hadn’t lost to Ted Strickland in 1994, then that space cadet (Ted) probably wouldn’t be my governor today
One really last thing:
Ken ran and lost in the old OH-1 in 1990, which had been a Democrat seat. I don’t know if that makes him now OH-1 or OH-2 the way the lines are currently drawn.
That was ‘92, not ‘94. Frank Cremeans did beat Strickland in ‘94, but was unable to hold the seat in ‘96 (he tried to audaciously take down Mike DeWine in the ‘00 GOP primary, and unfortunately came up short). Alas, Cremeans has since passed on. RIP.
“If Bob McEwen hadn’t lost to Ted Strickland in 1994, then that space cadet (Ted) probably wouldn’t be my governor today”
I’m not sure, even if the Strickland and Brown seats had been eliminated, which they should’ve, we still might’ve had a similar scenario with either one of them ending up in the current jobs they hold. Damn Ohio RINO incompetence and corruption.
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