Democrats focus Kansas congressional race on Trump, governor

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Democrats believe Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder is vulnerable in his suburban Kansas City district because Donald Trump and the state's GOP governor are seen as unpopular there, so they're pouring money into television ads to make the final weeks competitive.

Yoder wasn't expected to have much trouble winning re-election in the GOP-leaning 3rd District, given that Democrat Jay Sidie, a 59-year-old political unknown, trailed badly in fundraising. Sidie began October with less than $78,000 in cash, compared to Yoder's nearly $1.8 million.

But in sensing a chance to recapture a U.S. House majority as the GOP presidential nominee's fortunes waned, the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee committed to spending $1 million on TV ads for Sidie in the three weeks before the Nov. 8 election. A Republican super PAC, the Conservative Leadership Fund, is promising to spend $800,000 to help create what a spokeswoman called a "firewall" for Yoder.

Kansas Democrats also are trying to tap into a backlash against Republican Gov. Sam Brownback over the state's budget problems, portraying Yoder as a strong ally of the governor.

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article109888172.html