OUTTA HERE

Court Lets Dem Quit Kansas Senate Race

Huge boon to independent candidate.

The Kansas Supreme Court on Thursday dealt a blow to Republicans, ordering that Democrat Chad Taylor's name may be removed from the ballot for U.S. Senate. The ruling boosts Democratic hopes of evicting incumbent GOP Senator Pat Roberts, who is in a tight race with independent candidate Greg Orman. Taylor announced earlier this month that he was ending his campaign, but Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican, had ruled that Taylor's name must remain on the ballot because his withdrawal failed to meet precise requirements of the state's election law. The high court, however, dismissed Kobach's argument. Orman now has the chance to face Roberts alone, and polls show Orman leading the incumbent in a head-to-head matchup.