[MadIvan]

The last Republican Senator elected directly to the Presidency was Warren G. Harding in 1920.

The odds are not good. Furthermore, I don't have enough data to suggest how well he would do against Hillary.

Regards, Ivan

[meg88]

If he does well in Iowa the big money will come.

[FastCoyote]

"The last Republican Senator elected directly to the Presidency was Warren G. Harding in 1920."

Yeah, but what I don't see anyone pointing out is the the Democrats won't be running a Governor in 2008 either. So the mold is broken.

[sittnick]

The last Republican Senator elected directly to the Presidency was Warren G. Harding in 1920.

Your sample is too small to be meaningful. In most elections, at least one of the candidates is a sitting/former prez or veep. Among Republicans:

2004 Prez
2000 Gov
1996 Sen
1992 Prez
1988 VP
1984 Prez
1980 Fmr Gov
1976 Prez
1972 Prez
1968 Fmr VP
1964 Sen
1960 VP
1956 Prez
1952 General (Ike)
1948 Gov
1944 Gov
1940 Businessman (Willkie)
1936 Gov
1932 Prez
1928 Sec. of Commerce (Hoover)
1924 Prez

So, the only time we really TRIED a Senator since 1920 was Bob Dole and Barry Goldwater, both running against popular incumbents. You could argue that coupled with Alf Landon we have had a bad track record from Kansans of late. But if its Hillary Rodham/Obama/Bayh/Kerry/Edwards/Biden vs. McCain or Brownback we WILL be electing a Senator president.

[Vigilanteman]

Furthermore, I don't have enough data to suggest how well he would do against Hillary.

1996, the last time a Kansas Senator ran against a Clinton, would probably be a fair reference.