Only Wasinger and Moran Touring All 69 Big First Counties

We at KS-01 continue to be amazed that no other congressional candidate besides Rob Wasinger is knocking on doors and visiting with Kansans in all 69 counties in Kansas' Big First congressional district. We should qualify, however, that there is one other Federal candidate making the rounds--as he always does--and that is current Congressman Jerry Moran, who is running for the Senate.

The December 1 Garden City Telegram reports:

The Republican congressman stopped in on downtown businesses and local government chambers in Scott City and Dighton Monday as part of his annual listening tour, which is winding down as the end of the year approaches. Moran already has visited more than 60 of the 69 counties he represents in Kansas' First District over the course of this year.

So, we have to keep wondering: As we approach the 8-month mark before the Republican Primary, do the other candidates even plan to visit with all of their potential constituents before the election, which is less than 250 days away? And if not, what is there to make us think that any of the other candidates will have time for us or even listen to our concerns after the election? Only Jerry Moran and Rob Wasinger seem to understand that all the voters matter in the Big First.

Wasinger is Clutch in Hutch

As Kansas 01 has noted in previous posts, Rob Wasinger is in high gear meeting folks all across the giant Big First district in Kansas. Amazingly, despite our moving later into November with the weather getting colder, Wasinger does not seem to be slowing down one bit.

The Hutch News reports on Wasinger's recent visits to Hutchinson:

If Rob Wasinger has it his way, he'll knock on every door in Hutchinson before the November 2010 election.

A daunting task, but it's the very reason the Republican congressional candidate from Cottonwood Falls has started early, walking through local neighborhoods ...

This effort is so very impressive. Too often, political types--whether from Washington or Topeka--will race through a district like ours, tell us how much they care, ask for our vote, and then slam their car door racing to the next town before the coffee at their meeting hall has even cooled.

What separates a Jerry Moran--or a Rob Wasinger--from the rest of the political crowd is that, while they certainly have their political convictions and we know where they stand, they also take the time to listen and keep their vision strongly rooted in the real life interests and concerns of those of us who will be voting in the KS-01 primary next August. That's why we love Jerry Moran and it is why we are coming to love Rob Wasinger. Wasinger has it right on, as the Hutch News story continues:

Wasinger said he is discovering that people feel Washington has forgotten about them.

By walking the streets, knocking on doors, "the old-fashioned way," Wasinger said, he hopes to let people know he is listening.

Rob Wasinger--we can tell by your actions that you are listening. Thank you very much.

As Wasinger continues to make the rounds through his second full tour across all 69-counties in the Big First, we are wondering if--or when--any of the other challengers for the seat will begin even a 'first' 69-county tour of the Big First, and if they do so, will it be before Wasinger starts his 3rd tour? Voters in the Big First are starting to pay attention, and Wasinger is the one candidate who is taking us seriously.

Wasinger & the Reagan Coalition

The big news out of the Big First is that Rob Wasinger has been endorsed by Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican Presidential standard-bearer.

"Rob is running to restore economic common sense in Washington and bring growth and prosperity to Kansas," said Senator John McCain. "He embodies the spirit and values of Kansas, and will bring those values with him to Washington. He has always worked hard for Kansas and I know he will serve the citizens of Kansas well in Congress. Rob Wasinger has the right experience, vision, and values to lead Kansas into an era of economic growth and prosperity. He is an exemplary public servant we can trust."

Perhaps the even bigger story behind the endorsement though is the impressive coalition of support Wasinger is assembling. It is, in a word, Reagan-esque.

McCain is a strong representative of those who are concerned about government waste and a bloated federal bureaucracy. In Wasinger, he sees a Kansan who would be a strong ally in the fight against the abuses and corruptions of Washington.

While McCain is no darling of social conservatives, his endorsement is all the more notable because it places him alongside leading pro-family conservatives who have endorsed Wasinger, such as Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List and David Barton of WallBuilders. It also associates him with pro-life leaders like Doug Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee, who in his personal capacity has lauded Wasinger as "a strong ally and key strategist in many pro-life fights in Congress." Further on the side of limited government and lower taxes McCain is associating himself with strong leaders like former Sen. Fred Thompson, who has also endorsed Wasinger.

Put this together with the unrivaled (in quantity or quality) Wasinger Leadership Team, which now boasts over 100 Kansas community leaders from all across the 69-county Big First district, and you have quite the diverse coalition of support.

This is how Reagan resurrected the Republican Party nearly 30 years ago, uniting the various wings of the party behind a powerful vision of freedom, prosperity and respect for the dignity of the human person. While there are other conservatives in the race for KS-01, the leadership qualities of Wasinger are on full display in assembling this diverse coalition--and even more so considering that Wasinger is the only one who has been able to unite and gather support from all quarter of the Republican 'Big Tent.' Make no mistake, Wasinger is a strong conservative candidate; but among the field of candidates for KS-01, Wasinger is the one Kansan that all Kansans can feel good about rallying around.

Wasinger continues to gain momentum across the Big First as people are meeting him through his multiple tours of our massive 69-county Congressional district--something no other KS-01 candidate has even yet attempted once. Folks are meeting a man who grew up in Hays; who worked hard; who achieved early success; and who has dedicated his life to serving the state of Kansas, which he loves--the state that provided the foundation of his core conservative values, which he is now trying to pass along to his 9 children.

Grassroots Strength for Wasinger Grows

KS-01 candidate Rob Wasinger has announced that his Wasinger Leadership Team now boasts 100 community leaders from all across the 69 counties of the Big First.

In the words of Dick Friedeman of Great Bend, co-chair of the Wasinger Leadership Team:

"What separates Rob Wasinger from the rest of the pack is his strong grassroots support from business and community leaders across the Big First. The diversity of Rob's team is a striking reflection of Rob's reputation as a consensus builder to get results for the citizens of Kansas."

Reports received by KS-01 indicate that Wasinger--who is well-into his second full tour of the 69-county KS-01 Congressional District being vacated by Rep. Jerry Moran (who is running for Senate)--is being very well received by Republicans all across the district. Perhaps more than anything else, we at KS-01 are hearing from Kansans who have met Wasinger that he is a solid conservative capable of representing our Kansas values. Moreover, he has real and practical ideas to help strengthen the economy in Western Kansas and keep more of our best and brightest in the district.

Quotes from the community leaders who have joined the Wasinger Leadership Team can be read by clicking here.

Wasinger: Control Spending, Cut Taxes

The Salina Journal reports KS-01 candidate Rob Wasinger is already making "his second round of visits through" all 69 counties in Kansas' 1st Congressional District.

Wasinger was the first--and continues to be the only--KS-01 candidate to actually tour all 69-counties. At this point, it is doubtful that any of the other candidates have as good a feel for the pulse of the whole spectrum of voters across Kansas' Big First district.

The Salina Journal reports:

Between February and April, during his first swing through the 69 counties that make up the 1st Congressional District, Rob Wasinger said, the people he talked to couldn't wait to see what would happen with the new federal administration.

By the end of that time, though, people were "starting to feel some disconnect. They were starting to get upset," he said.

As he makes his second round of visits to those same counties, Wasinger -- who is running for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Jerry Moran, who is running for the U.S. Senate -- is hearing even more discontent, he said Thursday, during a stop at the Salina Journal.

Further on, the Salina Journal notes "the people [Wasinger] talks to on the campaign trail are upset about proposed health care legislation, about a growing deficit and about federal spending, Wasinger said. "

Wasinger said he's also heard from people who are still looking for the jobs that were supposed to have been created by the billions of dollars spent in the federal stimulus bills.

"Those are the concerns that are on the top of their minds," Wasinger said. "The poll numbers are shifting. People want to get rid of the career politicians. They say we need to get spending under control. We need to cut taxes. They are concerned about whether their needs are really being heard."

Read the whole Salina Journal story by clicking here.

Wasinger Launches First Ad in KS-01

Rob Wasinger, candidate for the KS-01 Congressional seat, has unveiled the first ad to be released for the 2010 Republican Primary in the Big First. This is a great video showing the personal side of Wasinger and his wonderful family.

Many of us have already met Rob and his great family during either his first or now his 2nd full tour of all 69 counties in Kansas' first district, and they really are a great bunch. Those who are meeting Rob on his coffee house tour or on one of his many campaign stops are coming away deeply impressed by Wasinger's commitment to conservative principles and his deep knowledge of the first district and its potential for economic growth and development.

Wasinger in McPherson Sentinel, FEC Deadline Looms

Though we experienced this year's first taste of real cold weather last weekend, Big First candidate Rob Wasinger was not phased as seen in this video clip from the Lindsborg Parade. And Wasinger's Coffee House Tour of the Big First continues to go strong according to the McPherson Sentinel:

Rob Wasinger, a Republican candidate for Kansas’ 1st Congressional District, spent Tuesday morning at Kettle Creek Coffee House meeting local voters and discussing their concerns. ...

“You get a real sense of the geography of the district. It’s 57,000 square-miles. We have been to all 69 counties, (I’m) the only candidate to do that,” said Wasinger, who elaborated on some of the concerns he’s heard from voters, such as health care and rural issues.“Only by traveling can you help identify where opportunities for growth are.” ...

Wasinger believes his record of public service and his message, which focuses on jobs and economic growth, will distinguish him from the pack.

“I’m going to do this one voter at a time, go door to door, talk to everybody and we’ve got a real message of economic growth and prosperity for Kansas, and real policy solutions to help accomplish that,” Wasinger said.

Wasinger's willingness to actually get out and meet voters all across our 69-county Kansas first district is truly impressive, and his visits across the state actually seem to be picking up speed--if that is possible.

The FEC deadline for reporting 3rd Quarter fundraising is tonight, so check back later for more analysis of the information.