If Sebelius Goes To Hhs ...

The NYT is reporting that Kansas' Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius is likely to be named to head the Department of Health and Human Services. That reduces the odds she will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Sam Brownback - which in turn raises the value of the Republican nomination for that seat. An already intense contest is about to become still more intense. From The Hill:

Both of them are white, mid-50s men who have been in Congress since the mid-1990s; both rate as tried-and-true conservatives; both are former state senators; both have survived recent elections with ease; and both are relative unknowns outside their home state.

Discerning any major differences between Kansas GOP Reps. Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt requires a microscope, but as the Senate primary between them builds steam, wedges are beginning to be laid.

On policy issues, Moran is seen as a conservative with an independent streak befitting of his highly rural district. Tiahrt, meanwhile, is judged a hard-right, party-line Republican.

The GOP primary for the state’s open Senate seat is sure to be a battle of two men trying to out-conservative each other.

We're going to hear a lot about this contest. It's useful to take advance warning that much of the alleged ideological differentiation between the candidates is in fact marketing, pure and simple.