U.S. Senate race in Kansas now national news

National media normally don’t pay attention to U.S. Senate races in Kansas. But suddenly this year’s race is big news, with Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., struggling in the polls, Democrat Chad Taylor dropping out and then being forced back on the ballot, and independent candidate Greg Orman gaining momentum. Here are a few excerpts from the national reporting last week:

“Suddenly, a deep-red state in the Koch brothers’ backyard is shaping up as a potential political firewall for Democrats as they fight to stave off a GOP takeover.” – Time

“After a congressional career of more than three decades in which he has never received less than 60 percent of the vote, Mr. Roberts now finds himself in what is shaping up to be the race of his life.” – New York Times

“With a little over eight weeks to go until the election, neither side can afford a misstep, especially in a state as Republican as Kansas.” – Brian Walsh, a former National Republican Senatorial Committee official, quoted in the Washington Post

“Once viewed as a GOP lock, Kansas may now emerge as a critical race in determining whether Republicans return to power for the first time in nearly a decade.” – Politico

“A spectacular confluence of events has built the credible scenario that a Republican could lose a Senate race in Kansas.” – Rothenberg Political Report

– Phillip Brownlee

This story was originally published September 6, 2014 at 7:05 PM with the headline "U.S. Senate race in Kansas now national news."