The Nix Six Project: Contenders?

After the former Democrat Attorney General Paul Morrison's embarrassing, public affair came to light - after running on "family values" during the campaign - Queen Kathleen handpicked Stephen Six to fill out the rest of Morrison's term.

So far, Six is going unchallenged in his bid for his first elected term. Instead, some of the GOP's top candidates are deciding to run for Secretary of State after Ron Thornburgh announced he'd be stepping down. Who were the two most likely candidates to take on Six?

• Kris Kobach: Former GOP Chairman, congressional candidate, and law professor at UMKC. Kobach announced he would run for Secretary of State, setting up a primary with young, up and comer from Salina, J.R. Claeys. Kobach is known across the country as an anti-illegal immigration advocate and popular with the conservative base.
  
  
• Derek Schmidt: An attorney and having served nearly 8 years in the Kansas Senate, now as Majority Leader, Schmidt could be the likely candidate to take on and knock off Six. Schmidt's, however, has indicated he is "exploring" a bid for SOS to setup a three-way primary.
  

Six has raised some money for his bid, but nothing that can't be overcome. The reality is that Six is virtually uknown around the state and having a big fat D after his name come 2010 won't exactly be an asset. Schmidt has served well in the Kansas Senate and needs to step up to the challenge to help the GOP sweep the statewide offices in 2010. Contact Schmidt at Derek.Schmidt@senate.ks.gov and let him know we need him for Kansas' next Attorney General.

And just for the heck of it, check out Morrison's "family values" ad during his campaign. Sad.

Morning Brief: H1N1, Thornburgh Backs Brownback, Obamamaniac Takes a Bite, Liberal WEBlog

• Kansas Prepares for more H1N1: A cause for alarm or media hype? According to the CDC, as many as half of all Kansans could contract H1N1. Seems like a second round of the swine flu scare that happened earlier this year. Hospitals are preparing and schools are trying to figure out what to do to prevent an outbreak. Medical professionals says Hope'N'Change can't cure H1N1. White House takes issue.
  
  
• Thornburgh Backs Brownback: All smiles and hugs yesterday when Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh endorsed U.S. Senator Sam Brownback in his bid for governor after Thornburgh dropped out in July. The endorsement lines the entire GOP behind Brownback after Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger made her endorsement official last week. Kansas Democrats were pretty much neutered after Queen Sebelius took a mad dash to Washington...unlikely they'll have a serious candidate. Possibilities include Democrat Senator Chris Steineger and KS Dem Party Chair Larry Gates. Either would prove entertaining. Predictions on how much Brownback will report in January? Leave a comment with your estimate.
  
  
• Obamamaniac Takes A Bite: Just like it sounds. An Obamacare supporter and MoveOn.org fanatic bit off the finger of a 65-year old man who opposes a government takeover of health care. See interview here. Word to the wise: watch out for vigilers and health care proponents who tend to dwell in the Lawrence...they pack a mean bite.
  
  
• WEBlog on Dem Party Payroll?: For real. Have you read the Wichita Eagle's blog lately? Take a look. Enough said.
  

Morning Brief: Revenues, Dream Ticket, Jenkins' Town Hall, Dole Schools Obama

Some of the top headlines this morning:

• Revenues Up, For Now: The Associated Press is reporting that Kansas state revenues are up for August, coming in at $376.8 million, up from the predicted $369.9 million. Alan Conroy, director of legislative research was this was "modest" good news and Governor Mark Parkinson issued a statement, saying the revenue report is an "encouraging sign".
  
  
• The Dems Worst Nightmare?: Yesterday, the KC Star reported Senator Brownback, Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, and GOP Chairwoman Amanda Adkins will hold a press conference at 11am on Thursday. Could this really be the dream ticket Republicans are waiting for or will it be a friendly, unifying endorsement? Seeing how the Democrats' bench is literally non-existent, especially after Jim Slattery's humiliating defeat in last year's election, a Brownback-Thornburgh ticket would seal the deal for the GOP to take the governor's mansion back for the next 8-16 years. But either way, Brownback will be governor in 2010. Such a ticket will surely send Dems running with their tails between their legs.
  
  
• Jenkins Fends Off MoveOn/Dennis Kucinich Clones: The Topeka Capital-Journal and Lawrence Journal-World highlights Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins' town hall yesterday at the Dole Institute in Lawrence. Single-payer loons, public option fiends, and "Health Care for All" advocates were there to spout their usual talking points. An enlightened KU student said health care is "the biggest social justice issue (in our time)". Riiiight. You know when liberals start making moral arguments like this, they've run out of actual reasons. A poll yesterday said only 40 percent of Americans support President Obama's handling of health care...if that's national number, I can't even imagine what the number is in Kansas. Stating the obvious: Kansas DO NOT want government in their health care.
  
  
• Bob Dole Schools Obama: In case you missed this goodie a few days ago, former Senator, and a great Kansan, Bob Dole, lashes the White House for its amateur handling of health care. Dole dishes out good advice for the president and if his Ivy League education taught him anything, he'd come down from his Hope cloud and listen.