Kansas Sen. Roberts Shuts Out Independent Challenger Orman

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) held off an independent challenger in a closely-watched race with no Democrat.

With 75 of precincts reporting, Roberts had 52 percent compared to Greg Orman’s 44 percent.

Orman suggested he’d caucus with whichever party won the majority.

Democratic nominee Chad Taylor withdrew from the race on Sept. 3. Roberts painted Orman as a Soros-supported liberal Democrat disguised as an independent.

The 45-year-old Orman identified as a Republican before 2007, changed to the Democratic Party, then declared himself Independent in 2009.

Vice President Joe Biden, though, did a radio interview today and confidently predicted that Orman is going to “be with us” — in the Democratic caucus.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said “there’s no conversations that I’m aware of along those lines” between the administration and Orman.

“It is my understanding that Mr. Orman has not indicated which party he’ll caucus with. I can’t account for any conversations the vice president may have had. But I’m certainly not aware of any special knowledge that is retained by any White House staffer I’ve spoken to about this issue,” Earnest said. “I have not spoken with the vice president about it, so I do not know who he has talked to.”