After lifting the spirits of Kansas Democrats eager to oust conservative Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, challenger Paul Davis now appears to be losing ground. The state’s longstanding GOP loyalties and negative television ads seem have been eroding his onetime lead in the polls.

Incumbent Brownback has been gaining since the Republican Governors Association began bombarding television viewers with spots focused on how Davis was caught as a young attorney in a strip club during a 1998 meth raid.  Davis has attacked Brownback for sharp tax cuts that led to a projected budget shortfall and a downgrading of the state’s credit rating.

The latest independent polls have indicated the race is a toss-up or with Brownback slightly ahead.