Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly sidesteps abortion in tough re-election battle (NBC News)

[pstokely]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/kansas-gov-laura-kelly-sidesteps-abortion-tough-re-election-battle-rcna48439

When Kansas voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment that would have removed language enshrining reproductive rights in their state, Democrats across the country pounced even harder on the issue as a flash point they said would drive huge turnout following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

But back in Kansas — where Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, is fighting a tough re-election battle— the issue is almost nowhere to be seen.

Kelly, who polls show is in a dead heat with her Republican challenger, state Attorney General Derek Schmidt, has instead focused almost exclusively on the economy, tax cuts and education.

Experts and Democrats say the effort could be key to the vulnerable incumbent prevailing in the overwhelmingly red state.

That’s because the path to victory for Kelly, who presides over a state in which registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats nearly two to one (Republicans make up 44% of registered voters, Democrats comprise 26%, while unaffiliated voters constitute 29%), relies almost entirely on her ability to appeal to Republican voters, with whom a prominent pro-abortion rights message wouldn’t largely resonate.

[W_HAMILTON]

1. The pro-choice referendum won by a greater share than she did...

...so, that means that it obviously appealed to many Republicans.

I can understand if she doesn't want to make it THE theme of her entire campaign, but she should certainly not shy away from it or "sidestep" it as this article says.

[uponit7771]

2. +1, she should make sure her rep challenger can't lie about his position

[ColinC]

3. Weird

[lark]

4. Bad choice.

Ks women showed they cared about abortion and I worry Kelly is passing up a winning opportunity.

[gratuitous]

5. Avoid taking a popular position on a winning issue - Brilliant!

What in the deep-fried fuck is Kelly's campaign thinking?!

[Mad_Machine76]

6. She bucked Biden about vaccines

Not particularly courageous like Whitmer who is also in hostile Republican territory, but whatever she needs to do in order to win, I suppose.