WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump initially tried to call Kansas Republican Kris Kobach while he was meeting in the Oval Office with Kobach's GOP rival Rep. Roger Marshall, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.
Both Marshall and Kobach are vying for the GOP nomination to replace retiring Republican Sen. Pat Roberts in Kansas.
Two sources familiar with Marshall's Monday meeting with president say that Trump tried to call Kobach to urge him to drop out of the race while the congressman and the president's political team were present, but the call went to voicemail.
Hours later, Trump spoke with Kobach, but by that time the president was by himself. The sources could not say with certainty what Trump told him during the private phone call.
The conversations with the two candidates took place as national Republicans scramble to find a standard-bearer in Kansas after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's decision to forgo the open seat Senate race.
Kobach, the former Kansas secretary of state, leads the primary field, according to the party's internal polling, but GOP operatives warn he could put the seat at risk in the general election.
Marshall, a Republican who represents western Kansas, has been attempting to cement support from the GOP establishment in the wake of Pompeo's decision, but Trump remains a wild card in the race.
Trump endorsed Kobach during his unsuccessful run for governor in 2018, but Marshall has been overt in his effort to curry the president's favor in recent weeks. Monday's Oval Office meeting could signal that Trump is considering backing his candidacy.
Marshall declined to comment on why the president spoke to Kobach after meeting with him Monday and provided limited details about his own conversation with Trump.
"The president and I had a great meeting. I don't want to get it into all the specifics of that conversation. He thanked me for the support we've given him and I feel really good, really strong about our relationship. I have no idea who else he's talking to," Marshall told The Star Wednesday.
Kobach's campaign did not respond to a question about whether Kobach was aware that Marshall was in the room when the president made his initial attempt at a phone call, but Kobach's spokeswoman did dispute a tweet from a New York Times reporter floating the idea that Trump could ask Kobach to run for the U.S. House instead.
"Secretary Kobach has zero interest in running for the second district, and the president has never raised the topic with him," Kobach spokeswoman Danedri Herbert said in a phone call.
Kobach lives in Kansas 2nd Congressional District, where incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Watkins is already facing a primary challenge from Kansas Treasurer Jake LaTurner.
Kobach emphasized to The Star in a Tuesday interview that the president was the one who called him and said the two discussed the Senate race and immigration. He described the call as encouraging.
He provided additional details about the 10-minute phone call during a Thursday interview with the Kansas City radio station KCMO. Kobach said he received a call from an operator who said the president was on Air Force One and wanted to talk.
"Obviously, when you get that phone call, you quickly get to a place where you've got a good signal," Kobach said.
"It's always a thrill to speak to the boss, so to speak," Kobach said.
Trump's potential endorsement could prove critical in determining the Republican nominee.
Trump endorsed Kobach on the final day before the 2018 primary for governor and recorded a robocall on his behalf as Kobach went onto defeat Gov. Jeff Colyer by 343 votes before losing to Democrat Laura Kelly in the general election.
"Clearly, the president can impact that race if he chooses to do so," Colyer said Thursday.
Kobach announced endorsements this week from the National Patrol Council and two gun rights groups. Marshall has the support of former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, who has filmed an ad on behalf of the congressman.
"Bob Dole is an icon and so I think he signals to a lot of people that Roger is a very competent conservative who can get things done. That's the Dole message," Colyer said. "That message tends to be aimed at over-40's, over-50's. That's a very significant part of the electorate."
