TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Secretary of State Kobach is criticizing his opponent in the Aug. 5 Republican primary for holding views on social issues that are out of sync with the Kansas GOP’s conservative platform.

But GOP challenger Scott Morgan said Tuesday that the criticism shows that Kobach doesn’t care about his office.

Their exchange began Monday, the deadline for Kansas voters to switch parties. Kobach’s re-election campaign sent out a tongue-in-cheek statement reminding Morgan of the deadline and suggesting that he’d registered as a Republican by mistake.

Morgan ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate in 2008. In a survey, he expressed support for abortion rights and civil unions for gay couples and opposition to allowing the concealed carrying of guns.

Morgan said such issues are irrelevant in the secretary of state’s race.

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