Trump spurns aides to endorse Kobach

WASHINGTON >> President Donald Trump overruled the warnings of aides Monday to endorse hardline conservative Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach in that state’s Republican gubernatorial primary.

In a morning tweet ahead of the Tuesday contest, Trump said Kobach has his “full & total Endorsement!” as he faces off against a field of candidates that includes incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer.

“Kris Kobach, a strong and early supporter of mine, is running for Governor of the Great State of Kansas,” Trump added. “He is a fantastic guy who loves his State and our Country — he will be a GREAT Governor.”

Kobach gained a national profile as an ardent advocate of stricter voter identification laws in his state, including a requirement in Kansas law that new voters provide proof of citizenship when they register that a federal judge recently struck down. His views on immigration policy also align with Trump’s.

Kobach was the most prominent Kansas elected official — and the only one holding statewide office — to publicly endorse Trump ahead of the state’s 2016 presidential caucuses.

Two Trump administration officials had told the AP in July that the president had been inclined to endorse Kobach ahead of the state’s Aug. 7 primary. But aides have warned the president that it would alienate Republicans loyal to Colyer, who succeeded Sam Brownback when Trump selected him for a diplomatic post.