A GOP operative on the ground in Kansas says their early-voting numbers are around where they want them to be for Republican incumbent Pat Roberts to hold off independent candidate Greg Orman. The turnout thus far is closer to the Republican-friendly 2010 turnout than 2012’s, the operative says.
Republicans made up more more than half of all early ballots cast (55 percent), including absentee and in-person early voting. If Republicans make up roughly 60 percent of the overall vote, then Roberts could be in good shape.
Meanwhile, unaffiliated voters, whom Orman’s camp has been trying to drive out to the polls, constitute “only” 15 percent of early voters, he says.
The race is still expected to be a nailbiter, but Republicans like where they’re sitting at this point.