Jerry Moran (Getty)
Oklahoma Sen.
Tom Coburn on Wednesday endorsed Republican Rep.
Jerry Moran's bid for Kansas Senate even though Coburn's endorsement means he will be taking sides in an intra-party battle.
"His election to the United State Senate would be a tremendous benefit to those of us fighting against the bailouts and irresponsible spending in Washington, D.C.," Coburn said of Moran, according to a fundraising letter Thursday. "I give him my strongest endorsement for the U.S. Senate." Coburn's home state borders Kansas to the south.
Moran, of Kansas' 1st District, faces a hotly contested primary battle against House colleague Todd Tiahrt of the 4th District for their party's nomination.
Coburn is well-known as a social conservative but it is Tiahrt, not Moran, who also shares that reputation. Moran holds a conservative voting record, but was known to break with the Bush White House.
Democrats have yet to recruit a strong challenger for the seat, currently held by Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, who is running for governor. Many Democrats hoped term-limited Gov. Kathleen Sebelius would vie for the Senate, but her selection as Health and Human Services Secretary has removed her name from contention.
Kansas remains Republican-leaning territory where John McCain prevailed in 2008 with 57 percent of the vote.
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