Greg Smith vs. Lisa Benlon Campaign Analysis

Above, Greg Smith.

This morning, I was perusing SwingStateProject.com's analysis of the 2010 Kansas state legislature races and noted their analysis of the race between Greg Smith, the father of Kelsey Smith, and Rep. Lisa Benlon in Overland Park.

They wrote:

KS-HR-22: 34.6R/32D/32.5U : District Map : (D) Lisa Benlon - Another former Republican state representative, Benlon returned to politics in 2008 as a Democrat, winning 53% to succeed Democrat Sue Storm, who rose to a seat on the state Board of Education. Benlon did draw a fairly strong opponent in Greg Smith, the father of the late Kelsey Smith. Still, the district's blue tint, and Smith's very conservative profile, should be enough to save Benlon, assuming Democrats actually turn out. Rating: Lean Democrat

Note that the district is 34.6% Republican and 32% Democrat with 32.5% Unaffiliated. Swing State Project's rating would make some sense had Barack Obama and the Democrats hadn't made a worse mess out of the economy than it already was in and, also, not forced Obamacare down people's throats. The voters are hopping mad!

Additionally, this is marginally a Republican district. Independents (the unaffiliated voters) tend to be more conservative and vote GOP than they do Democrat. Also, independent support of Obama and the Democrats nationally has plummeted.

It doesn't help matters that Lisa Benlon became a Democrat after being a former Republican state representative. There are three kinds of unpopular politicians this year: Liberal-Socialist Democrats, R.I.N.O.* Republicans and turncoats. Just ask Sen. Arlen Specter! By being a turncoat in switching parties, Benlon makes her chances at re-election much more difficult than what meets the eye, especially this year.

Keep in mind that Swing State Project is a left-wing website, so their "analysis" may be more wishful-thinking than objective.

Greg Smith is running on a conservative platform.

If Greg Smith mounts an aggressive campaign on the issues and ties the Obama/socialism noose around her neck, Benlon can be defeated.

To read swingstateproject.com's ratings, go here.


*Republican In Name Only