Pat Roberts, Greg Orman duel in debate for U.S. Senate seat from Kansas

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas escalated his war of words with independent opponent Greg Orman on Wednesday during their second scheduled debate in Overland Park.

“Trying to get Greg Orman’s position on an issue, any issue, is like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall,” Roberts said. “Kansas needs someone in the Senate with conviction and backbone. My opponent has neither.”

For the most part, Orman did not return the rhetorical fire. Instead, he continued his criticism that Democrats, Roberts and the incumbent’s fellow Republicans contribute to Washington gridlock.

“Both parties are failing Kansas,” Orman said. “I’m running as an independent to reject the false choices that the two-party system has presented us with.”

The exchange — part of an hourlong debate sponsored by the Johnson County Public Policy Council — came as new polls showed Roberts pulling slightly ahead of Orman for the first time in the campaign.

A Fox News poll released Wednesday showed Roberts leading Orman by 5 percentage points among likely voters, 44 percent to 39 percent. A CNN/ORC poll showed likely voters favoring the Republican by 1 percentage point, 49 percent to 48 percent.

Other polls earlier this week showed Orman leading. The Real Clear Politics average of all polls shows Orman ahead in the race, 44.7 percent to 42 percent. It’s a lead he’s held for several weeks.

But each candidate’s use of familiar campaign themes may reflect a tightening race. Neither used the rare debate to break new policy ground or propose new programs or solutions to recurrent problems.

Roberts repeatedly referred to President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, accusing both of stalling progress on tax reform and enforcing immigration laws. Orman said he had supported Republicans in the past but eventually decided neither party was fully committed to fixing the country.

Orman also repeated his pledge to oppose both Democrat Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, if either seeks election to a leadership position next year.

Roberts called Orman’s refusal to pledge to either Senate party “rather ridiculous.”

Both candidates were asked if they supported an increase in the federal minimum wage. Neither answered the question.

Orman said he wanted to streamline the nation’s tax code, in part to limit tax advantages for overseas corporate income. Roberts said he wants a tax code that’s “lower, flatter, fairer.”

After the debate, at the Overland Park Convention Center, both candidates reinforced messages raised during their discussion.

“What we heard from the senator today was rather typical,” Orman told reporters. “After 47 years in Washington, he’s telling us he’s the solution to the gridlock in Washington.”

Roberts told reporters Kansas voters will decide who controls the Senate, and the Congress, in 2015.

“The road to a Republican majority runs right through Kansas,” he said. “Harry Reid’s a dictator.”

Roberts — and Orman — also suggested potential support from U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine.

King has not endorsed either candidate.

This story was originally published October 8, 2014 at 8:44 PM with the headline "Pat Roberts, Greg Orman duel in debate for U.S. Senate seat from Kansas."