Greg Orman--the "independent" Kansas Senate candidate running with the backing of national Democrats--was asked on October 9 how he would vote on the two abortion bills most likely come to the Senate floor during the next six years (the No Taxpayer-Funding for Abortion Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act).
"I'll read those bills," Orman said, and get back with an answer later.
Given ample time to read the short bills, Orman still won't say how he would vote on either piece of legislation. Orman spokesman Mike Phillips (who happens to be a former Democratic campaign staffer) has declined to respond to emails from THE WEEKLY STANDARD over the past week asking how Orman would vote on these bills.
Orman has taken a pro-choice position on the issue of abortion in general, but he's been working hard to avoid taking a clear position on actual legislation he might vote on. At one parade, he literally ran away from a voter who asked him about his stance on the issue.
" I think we spend a whole lot of time in this country talking about this issue and we have spent a lot of time over the last couple of decades talking about it. And I think it prevents us from talking about other important issues," Orman said at October 19 debate. Incumbent GOP senator Pat Roberts replied that Orman's position was " unconscionable."
Orman has given shifty answers on a number of other issues as well. He was unwilling to say if he'd vote to repeal Obamacare's individual mandate and has given a muddled answer about who he'd vote for to be Senate majority leader. Orman has a lead of less than one percentage point over Roberts in the RCP average of polls.