Wealthy Oilman Joins Kansas 4th District Fray

[ccharles000]

During an interview today with KFDI News of Wichita, Republican Willis "Wink" Hartman Sr., a wealthy oilman, announced his intention to run for Kansas' open 4th District seat.

"I've been very fortunate, not only financially but providing jobs and building different infrastructures and different companies. So now I'd like to take that talent, that I've ... whittled down to a fine art, I'd like to take that to Washington and see what I can do for the 4th District," he said.

Hartman joins state Sen. Dick Kelsey, Republican National Committee member Mike Pompeo and businessman Jim Anderson in the race for the GOP nomination to succeed Republican Rep. Todd Tiahrt, who is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sam Brownback.

Pompeo leads in early fundraising with $253,000 raised through June 30, and Kelsey loaned his campaign $223,000 for a total of $230,000 raised through the same date. Anderson entered the race in July, after the close of the fundraising quarter.

State Rep. Raj Goyle is among the candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. He also entered the race after the most recent campaign finance period.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2009/08/wealthy-oilman-joins-kansas-4t.html

[hfojvt]

1. Raj? Raj?

Our guy is named Raj? So much for our picking up this seat. Dang it all, why can't he change his name to Bobby or something? Or Yossarian?

What kind of a name is Raj? :banghead:

and Goyle is not much better. Unless he can really sing or something.

[ccharles000]

2. it would be a hard seat for us no matter who we picked

[hfojvt]

3. hard, but perhaps not impossible

it is our best chance
1) it's an off year
2) there's no Republican incumbent

Tiahrt won 64-34 in 2006 and 64-32 in 2008.

Now in Western Kansas, Moran won 82-13 in 2008 and 79-20 in 2006.