Boyda in striking distance

The National Journal has updated the race in the KS-02 to in play. It is no longer considered a safe seat for Jim Ryun.

This is heartening news indeed.

I have faith that Boyda and her grass-roots, populist campaign will pull it out. The Kansans of the KS-02 are the same reasonable, rational people who kept Jim Slattery in that seat for as long as he was willing to run for it. Had he not made that failed attempt for the Governors Mansion in 1994, he would probably still be representing the Second.

Let me put my optimism in perspective. The polls reveal that Boyda is standing at 41% and Ryun at 45%. Ryuns die-hard supporters are already committed. With 14% of the likely electorate undecided, the odds of Boyda picking up enough of those votes to pull off an upset is not unthinkable.

This makes me cautiosly optimistic about the chances of the KS-02 returning to sane representation.