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Analysis: Dems Seek To Tap Kansas Populism

Reporter: Associated Press

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Kansas Democrats are trying to reclaim the state's Populist tradition and attacking conservative Republican tax-cutting policies.

They're hoping to avoid a wipeout in legislative races driven by frustration in a GOP-leaning state with Democratic President Barack Obama.

Brownback and other conservatives have positioned themselves as champions of entrepreneurs in promoting massive income tax cuts enacted this year as a boon to the state's economy.

Democrats contend the tax cuts are unfair to middle-class and poor Kansans, particularly wage earners. They're trying to make the November election a referendum on Brownback's policies, instead of Obama.

Conservatives ousted moderate Republicans from power in the state Senate in primary races after suggesting the moderates weren't ardent enough in opposing the health care law Obama championed.