Mann seems to know everybody in Western Kansas. One of my best friends in Great Bend, Gary Pinkall, is related to Mann, and his parents live on the same street as Mann in Salina. His parents look after Mann's dog when the Manns are out of town.

When I called Mann's home in Salina to interview him, his wife, Audrey, answered the phone. Tracey wasn't home, but his wife was very kind, and asked me: "Are you related to Cade Keenan?" I was taken aback. "Why, yes, he's my first cousin. His folks live right down the street." And then it hit me: that's why Uncle Pat has a Tracey Mann sign in his yard, right next to his Moran sign. My cousin went to K-State with Mann.

For some reason, Mann's signs appear in dozens of yards in Great Bend right next to Jerry Moran for Senate signs. People who like Moran seem to like Mann. The one candidate in the field who reminded me of Moran the most in terms of being a good listener was Monte Shadwick of Salina. Shadwick realized he probably couldn't win the race, and he did the best thing for Salina: he dropped out of the race, and threw his support to fellow Salina resident Tracey Mann. So Mann is the only candidate in the Republican primary from the largest city in the district: Salina.

But Mann's support is more rural than city. He grew up in Quinter, and, from what I can tell, every cattle farmer in Western Kansas seems to have a Mann sign on thier farm.
Most college-bound students from Western Kansas go to KSU or Fort Hays, and Mann seems to remember everyone he went to KSU with. He was Student Body President. And he's the only KSU grad of the six candidates in the primary.

Mann wins hands down on direct mail, personal contacts, and outdoor advertising. Where he lags is TV. He has short TV ads--maybe ten or fifteen second ads --- which show a still picture of him while he makes his pitch. His TV ads are more like short radio ads, long on words, short on moving images.

But if Mann could produce a good 30 second ad with he and his wife Audrey, talking to the camera, just like Dr. Barnett, he could win the whole shooting match on August 3. Television is effective because it's so persuasive. Seeing is believing. If Mann ramps up his TV presence, he could be the surprise winner on August. 3.

Mann is an adherent of Ronald Reagan's "Eleventh Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Speak Ill of a Fellow Republican." If only all six campaigns felt the same way. Mann, Sue Boldra and Dr. Barnett have already been hit with anonymous "dirty tricks" on the internet.

There is a lot of time left before the primary, and all six candidates are in the mix. Senator Barnett seems to be in the lead, but Tracey Mann could surprise everyone, especially if he gets on TV more.

The winner of the Republican primary will face lone Democrat Alan Jilka, former Mayor of Salina. It's always an uphill fight for a Democrat in the Big First, but it will be really uphill if Jilka is running against a fellow Salina resident.