subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Thu, Nov 26 2009 

Published July 13, 2008 10:01 pm - Lee Jones has no problem admitting he’s an underdog to former U.S. Rep. Jim Slattery in the race for the Democratic Party’s nomination to challenge Pat Roberts for his U.S. Senate seat in November.
“I feel like an underdog,” said Jones, 57, a former railroad engineer who lives in Overland Park, in a telephone interview. “But I feel like I’m the best candidate because I’m a farmer and I’ve lived in Kansas this whole time, unlike Congressman Slattery.”


Kansas U.S. Senate race an underdog story



By Greg Grisolano

ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com

Lee Jones has no problem admitting he’s an underdog to former U.S. Rep. Jim Slattery in the race for the Democratic Party’s nomination to challenge Pat Roberts for his U.S. Senate seat in November.

“I feel like an underdog,” said Jones, 57, a former railroad engineer who lives in Overland Park, in a telephone interview. “But I feel like I’m the best candidate because I’m a farmer and I’ve lived in Kansas this whole time, unlike Congressman Slattery.”

The winner of the party’s primary race on Aug. 5 will face Pat Roberts, the senior Republican senator and a fixture on Capitol Hill for more than 40 years.

According to the Federal Election Commission, from January of 2007 to March 31, 2008, Jones received $13,470 in campaign contributions. Slattery, meanwhile managed to raise $289,025 in that same time period, despite the fact that he did not even formally file to run for the post until June of 2008. He was the last candidate to file.

“Yes, there’s a difference between how much I’ve raised and how much Jim Slattery’s raised,” said Jones, who lost by a wide margin in a 2004 bid against Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback. “I’m hoping the citizens of Kansas understand I’m a working person; I’ve represented working people my entire life, and that sets me apart from what Jim Slattery has been.”

Slattery, 59, has spent the past 12 years working as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., something Jones has been critical of on his Web site. Slattery defended his role as a lobbyist, and said he doesn’t believe it to be a disadvantage, because as a lobbyist he represented companies in the Midwest.

“I’m very proud of the work I’ve done for Kansas companies and Midwest companies over the last few years,” Slattery said by telephone. He added he has owned a home and maintained a farm in Kansas since 1972.

Both men said they see energy, health care and national security as the top issues for their race this year.

“Energy, the price of gas, fiscal issues,” Slattery said. “It’s important to figure out how to extricate ourselves from Iraq as quickly as possible. Pat Roberts has been just tragically wrong on all the issues that are vital to this country.”

Jones agreed that energy policy and addressing the high cost of fuel should be the nation’s top priority.

“The cost of energy is the No. 1 thing we need to address right now,” he said. “It affects everything we do, from the way we get to work, to how we get our crops in and manufacture goods.”

The underdog story is likely to continue no matter which candidate the party ends up fielding.

Roberts has received more than $2.6 million in campaign contributions from January 2007 to March 31 of 2008, and he has history on his side. It’s been more than 70 years since Kansas voters sent a Democrat to Washington in the Senate.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements


Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Transportation

HONDA, 2007 FIT SPORT,
customized interior package, automatic, air, AM/FM/CD, cruise, great mpg, low miles, excellent condition, $11,800. (417)...>MORE

1989 CHEVROLET STEPSIDE
350, V8, custom flames, runs great, $2500. 417-208-6717...>MORE

OLDSMOBILE 2003 SILHOUETTE VAN
OLDSMOBILE, 2003 Silhouette mini van, 107,000 miles, scooter/wheelchair hoist, nice, $7000. (417)776-3219....>MORE

1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM
2 door, spoiler, sharp, loaded, automatic, air, CD, extra nice, $2600. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

1999 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED
4x4, leather loaded, $3500. 417-850-0731....>MORE

1993 CHEVROLET LONG BED
runs good, 4.3 V6, new transmission, needs body parts, $400. (417)438-2508...>MORE

2002 KIA OPTIMA EX
4 door, sharp, loaded, leather, CD, sunroof, extra nice, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

TOYOTA 2004 TACOMA PRERUNNER
Toyota, 2004 Tacoma Prerunner, TRD off road, double cab, V6, new tires, CD, bed liner, lid cover, 100,000 miles, excelle...>MORE

HONDA 2001 CIVIC EX
HONDA, 2001 Civic EX, 4 door, automatic, 94,000 miles, $5800; 1998 Accord, 4 door, $4200; 1999 Honda Prelude, automatic...>MORE

1998 CHEVROLET TRACKER
removable hard tops, automatic, air, CD, sharp, $2500. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

NEWER 3 BR/2 BA
Lots of upgrades and great location. $149,000 but all offers considered. 903 Katlin, Carl Junction. Pictures www.fsboloc...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

DIAMOND SOLITAIRE
Pear-shaped, one carat, diamond solitaire in gold setting. $2,000. Please call 417-825-3238...>MORE

REWARD $50,000 REWARD

Offered for any information leading to conviction of any person or persons known to have been involved in alleged
...>MORE

ANGUS HEIFERS
6 Augus heifers, good foundation stock. (417)358-7519...>MORE

ENGLISH BULLDOG PUPPY
male, AKC, fawn/white, champion bloodlines, $900 or best offer. (417)396-3340...>MORE

INDIAN HEAD PENNIES
INDIAN HEAD PENNIES, 35% Civil War II nickels, V nickels, Buffalo nickels, lots of other coins. Garage full of antiques ...>MORE

(2) TEACUP CHIHUAHUA
APRI puppies. (417)673-1997....>MORE

POODLE, FULL BLOODED
POODLE, full blooded, $75 or best offer. (417)385-8710 after 4:30 p.m....>MORE

5TH WHEEL
5TH WHEEL, 2004 Prowler Regal, 26’, 2 slides, loaded, nice. (620)674-2127....>MORE

NEW IN BOX
New in box, Lucchese cowboy boots, black, size 9D, $200. (620)231-9256...>MORE

POODLES
POODLES, standard pups, born 10/10, registered, shots, wormed, family raised. Adorable personalities! 417-673-3892....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition