Kansas City News Blog

By JUSTIN KENDALL

Don't cry for Phill.

Phill Kline is a noose around Mary Pilcher Cook's neck. Two nights ago, Cook faced Sue Gamble, the roaring mouth of the Kansas Board of Education, in a Johnson County Young Republicans' candidate forum at Barley's Brewhaus. Three times, Cook was asked if she supports Kline, the controversial anti-abortion Johnson County District Attorney, and each time Cook treated Kline's name like arsenic.

Cook, a socially conservative anti-tax former state rep, and Gamble, a moderate member of the

Kansas Board of Education's pro-evolution faction, are running in the Republican primary for Nick Jordan's vacated 10th District state Senate seat.

Cook and Gamble took questions from the audience about the economy, taxes, stem-cell research and illegal immigration, but one subject kept creeping up: Phill Kline.

The first Kline question was directed at Cook from someone in the audience: Did she, as a precinct committeewoman, vote for Kline in 2006 special election? Cook refused to directly answer the question.

"Look, I don't think anyone wants Kansas to be known as the abortion capital of the world," Cook said. "And I don't think any of us don't want our Kansas laws to be enforced."

Another questioner put it simply: Steve Howe or Phill Kline?

"I think the question was already answered," Cook protested. She encouraged voters to "watch and see how the election plays out" and "have an open mind."

Gamble said she supports Howe.

Gamble's party loyalty was also in question. Gamble was asked if she would ever endorse a Democratic candidate again -- Gamble supported Democratic Congressman Dennis Moore in 2004. The man followed the question asking if Cook and Gamble would pledge their support to whomever wins the Republican primary for DA.

Gamble called her support of Moore "a mistake."

"I humbly apologize," Gamble said, "and no, I will never do it again."

Gamble also agreed to support the winner of the Howe-Kline bloodbath.

Not surprisingly, Cook said she would never endorse a Democrat and would support the Howe-Kline survivor.

The third time Cook was asked if she supported Kline, she again danced around the question and repeated her line about watching the election and listening "to what both candidates have to offer."

Cook's dodging of her past support of Kline is surprising considering he helped her win her first term in the statehouse.