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Article snippet: For weeks, Republican strategists sent polling data to the White House that showed Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) would struggle to beat a Democrat in November. The same polls showed Gov. Jeff Colyer (R) easily winning a full term. The goal, according to two Republicans with knowledge of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering, was to keep MORE from endorsing Kobach, a firebrand conservative best known for his hard lines on voting rights and illegal immigration. On Monday, Trump endorsed Kobach anyway, by presidential tweet. A day later, Kansas voters cast what amounts to a split decision: Kobach leads Colyer by just 191 votes, out of more than 250,000 cast. Thousands of provisional and mail-in ballots remain to be cast. The close results underscore the political risks Trump has embraced in anointing favored candidates, even those who are not seen as the favorites in their own states. Previous administrations have sought to avoid being seen as meddling in primaries, a caution this president does not heed. Trump has also offered endorsements in states that will be important to his own reelection bid in 2020, such as Georgia, Michigan and Ohio. Taken together, the endorsements have cemented Trump’s power and influence over a Republican Party that he acquired by hostile takeover in the 2016 presidential election. “He’s been very supportive and loyal to those members of Congress who are supporting his agenda to get the economy back on track,” said House Major... Link to the full article to read more