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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Thursday, August 24, 1995
7A
Kansas Republicans await Kassebaum's decision
Vacancy would create scramble for primary
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Kansas Republican Party is assuming that Sen. Nancy Kassebaum won't seek re-election in 1996, even though she will announce no decision until fall and other Republicans think she will run.
"Anyone who says they know what she will do is merely speculating," said Mike Horak, Kassebaum's press secretary. "If they claim they do, I'd be a bit skeptical."
But if Kassebaum bows out, and if Sen. Bob Dole resigns either to run full-time for president or to move into the White House, it would set off a mad political scramble for the Senate seats and could drastically alter Kansas' power in Washington.
There are signs of the potential campaign to come in the recent activity of Republican Rep. Pat Roberts, who is holding fund-raisers and making speeches on a wide range of topics in places outside his district such as Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City.
"I'm operating on the assumption that she's probably not going to run again," said David Miller, the state GOP chairman. "I don't think that (Roberts' activities) would be happening if the other was the case."
Some Republicans say Kassebaum has given Roberts her blessing to begin the groundwork for a potential Senate campaign, even though she hasn't told him whether she will run for a fourth term next year.
Kassebaum's blessing, the sources said, came during a July 1 airplane ride to dedicate the Huck Boyd Rural Research Center in Phillipsburg, Kan. Roberts, Kassebaum and Gov. Bill Graves were aboard and the talk quickly turned
to 1996.
Graves asked the senator if she had made any decision about reelection, and Kassebaum replied that she wouldn't until this fall. Roberts then asked for—and got her assent to begin gearing up for a statewide race, just in case.
"We're broadening our fund-raising a little bit," said Roberts spokeswoman Lisa Gagnon. "We have no idea what she's planning on doing."
Roberts, however, told the Dodge City Daily Globe that he has never sought Kassebaum's blessing and that his appearances around the state aren't unusual. He was in Wichita to speak to a Republican women's group Tuesday.
"We have had some discussions," Roberts said. "Basically I've urged her to run again."
Graves, without referring specifically to the airplane story, told The
Mia Bagen,
"Pat Roberts
isn't the kind of
guy who would
start circling
the state without
having
touched base
with Nancy
Kassbeaum."
Miller noted Kassebaum, 64,
initially promised to serve
only two terms and reluctantly
ran for a third in
1990.
"I think the
Kassebaum may well have a primary opponent from the conservative wing of the Republican Party, of which Miller is a part.
Although Roberts would be the favorite to succeed Kassebaum, Miller said there is a lot of "pent-up demand" because of the longevity of the two senators. Kassebaum was first elected in 1978, Dole in 1968.
"I'm operating on the assumption that she's not going to run again."
Among the Republicans considered potential Senate candidates are former state GOP Chairman Kim Wells, freshman Rep. Sam Brownback, Wichita real estate executive Nestor Weigand and former state Sen. Eric Yost, also of Wichita.
Democratic ranks would include Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, a six-term former congressman from Wichita, former Rep. Jim Slattery, former state Rep. John
expectation is she's not going again," Miller said. "She gave me an indication she'd let me know by the end of the year. I understand her wanting to do something else."
But things are different now. Kassebaum is at the apex of her career as chairwoman of the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, and Republicans appear all but certain to keep control of the Senate in 1996.
Even if she runs, Horak said
Wagnon and former Gov. John Carlin, now head of the National Archives.
David Miller
Kansas Republican Chairman
Brownback said Tuesday he is encouraging Kassebaum to run again, especially considering Dole's status as front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.
"I want to be
counted on the side of those who, in looking for the long-term best interests of Kansas, ask that she would be willing to consider going one more time," Brownback said Tuesday.
If she retires, however, Brownback said he would definitely not challenge Roberts for the nomination.
"He's been very supportive and helpful to me. I wouldn't run against him," Brownback said.
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