After two years of campaigning, it all boils down to today.
Senate hopeful Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and his family got an early start on primary election day festivities, hosting a 7 a.m. “victory rally” at his Hays campaign quarters. A crowd gathered to hear from their hometown candidate and to offer well-wishes for a victory.
“I think this is a very important election,” Moran said. “I think so many things that have gone on in our nation’s capital today are heading us in the wrong direction, and the American people have the ability to right the course.”
Moran is facing Republican opponent Rep. Todd Tiahrt in what has become a rather muddy campaign. The Hays resident thanked his family and volunteers for their support along the campaign trail, despite recent negativity.
“I’m sorry that the campaign developed the way it did,” Moran said. “In fact, I sat down with my opponent before it ever started, and I said ‘If you decide to do this, I will do everything I can to see that we remain on friendly terms and that we work together on behalf of Kansans.’
“And I received a blank stare.”
Among those in attendance were Iola Ruder and her daughter, Bonnie Staab. The Plainville residents have known Moran — who graduated in Staab’s class — since he was young.
“I sat in government class and knew that this guy was going to do something,” Staab said. “He’s the best man for the job.”
Moran has represented Kansas’ First Congressional District since 1997, and announced his intention to run for Senate in November 2008.
Polls suggest the race could be a close one. A poll released Monday by KWCH suggests 49 percent of participants favor Moran, while 39 percent support Tiahrt. The results suggest 5 percent of voters favor other candidates, with 6 percent still undecided.
Moran said the results are difficult to predict, and acknowledged that a strong turnout from the state’s first district could be crucial for a victory.
“I’ve seen lots of polls — every poll that I’ve seen shows us with a double-digit lead. But the reality is, polls just capture the moment in which the question is asked,” he said. “But I do know that to win this race, I win it if my own constituents show up and vote for me one more time.”
An election night watch party will be hosted in Moran’s Hays headquarters, 1011 W. 27th, Ste. F4, beginning at 6 p.m.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, with 10 polling places in Ellis County. The county already has seen a strong response in advanced voting ballots, with more than 1,200 ballots cast in advance voting, said Donna Maskus, deputy county clerk.
The clerk’s office is projecting a 30 percent voter turnout for today’s primary election.
“I think we look for, and we’re seeing, a large turnout because we have local candidates that are in state races,” Masksus said. “And people are doing a great job of supporting them. That’s good to see.”
