Democrats sense Pompeo is wounded: Senate race is 'effectively abandoning ship'

WASHINGTON -- For months, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo enjoyed widespread speculation in Washington and Kansas not over whether he would have a future in politics, but how high he would go.

The two immediate choices before him – remain as President Donald Trump’s secretary of state, or leave to run for Senate in Kansas next year – both appeared low-risk and high-reward throughout the summer.

But testimony and records released this week, directly implicating Pompeo in a fast-moving congressional impeachment inquiry, have stymied his potential exit. The option of a graceful, uncontroversial resignation — the sort enjoyed by Trump’s first ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who also has future political ambitions — has likely expired.

Republican leaders have wanted Pompeo as a candidate for the Senate in his home state. They see him as the best choice to take Kansas off the map and eliminate the possibility that the seat, opening up with the retirement of Sen. Pat Roberts, flips in 2020. With a June filing deadline, he could depart more or less at the time of his choosing. Victory would also give him a premium platform for a 2024 presidential bid.

Read more: https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237662549.html