'Democrat's Exit Roils Kansas Senate Race' reads one headline. Another simply says 'It's a Race: Democratic Candidate Drops Out.'
These were just a few of the website headlines we found Wednesday night after Democrat Chad Taylor announced he is pulling out of the race against Pat Roberts.
Independent Candidate Greg Orman released this statement. 'This is certainly an unexpected turn of events Chad Taylor is a committed public servant . I wish him and his family well.'
But the Pat Roberts Campaign Manager says he is not so sure Greg Orman didn't expect it.
In a statement released Wednesday night the incumbent Senator says, in part: 'Chad Taylor's withdrawal from the U.S. Senate race reveals a corrupt bargain between Greg Orman and national Democrats including Senator Harry Reid. It makes clear what has been obvious from the start: Orman is the choice of liberal Democrats and he can no longer hide behind an independent smokescreen.'
Local political analyst Ken Ciboski says national Democrats could very well have been involved in Taylor's decision.
'I think there has been contemplation about this happening for quite some time,' Ciboski said. 'If Chad Taylor had stayed in the race the possibility would have been that he and Orman would have split the vote many ways and Pat Roberts would have won with a plurality.'
Ciboski also said it became clear in the past weeks that Orman had a better chance of defeating Roberts than Chad Taylor, and Democrats see Senator Roberts as vulnerable. Taylor's withdrawal does make one thing sure.
The Senate Race in Kansas is certainly one the national political stage will be watching and it may be a wake-up call for the Roberts campaign. 'He can't rest on his laurels.' says Ciboski. 'He has to be out there campaigning.'
Even though he is an Independent, if Greg Orman is elected he will have to to choose a party with which to caucus. Ciboski says because Orman used to be a Democrat, he will most likely choose Senate Democrats.
Entities 0 Name: Chad Taylor Count: 5 1 Name: Ciboski Count: 4 2 Name: Roberts Count: 3 3 Name: Greg Orman Count: 3 4 Name: Taylor Count: 2 5 Name: Pat Roberts Count: 2 6 Name: Senate Race in Kansas Count: 1 7 Name: Independent Candidate Greg Orman Count: 1 8 Name: Senate Count: 1 9 Name: Harry Reid Count: 1 10 Name: U.S. Senate Count: 1 11 Name: Ken Ciboski Count: 1 12 Name: Orman Count: 1 13 Name: Pat Roberts Campaign Manager Count: 1 14 Name: Exit Roils Kansas Senate Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1BcfXEQ Title: Dem candidate drops out of race against Sen. Roberts in Kansas Description: Democrat Chad Taylor had been running against three-term Republican incumbent Pat Roberts.
