It was quite an itinerary for any person taking time off from work, let alone the sitting governor of a state.

Last week, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius campaigned for Sen. Barack Obama's presidential run in Iowa on Tuesday, in Wisconsin on Wednesday and Thursday, in North Carolina on Friday and then in Florida on Saturday.

This week, she already has traveled Tuesday to Virginia for an appearance on Obama’s behalf.

The governor’s exuberant week-day support of Obama’s presidential campaign has drawn the ire of Republican officials, one of whom has been describing her as the “AWOL governor.”

Maria Holiday, a delegate to the Republican National Convention, was among the Republicans who objected to Sebelius’ frequent week-day travels on Obama’s behalf.

“She was elected, or hired if you will, to work for Kansans, and instead she’s working for Obama,” Holiday said. “Who’s handling her job when she’s away? Either someone else is doing her job, or the job’s just not getting done.”

Holiday added that Sebelius’ campaign trips suggest that “she’s putting her own personal political ambitions ahead of the citizens of Kansas.”

Some Republicans have been citing a Hutchinson News article in which Sebelius said that most of her Obama campaigning has been occurring on weekends.

Nicole Corcoran, a spokesperson for Sebelius, told Kansas Liberty the governor would continue to enthusiastically support Obama, including in venues outside of Kansas “as it works with her schedule and commitments.”

Corcoran claimed that given today’s technology, even when Sebelius is on a campaign trip, the governor is in "constant contact with her office and staff whether she’s traveling on state business or working on outside issues.”

According to Corcoran, “Gov. Sebelius works 365 days a year on behalf of the people of Kansas - her work day does not end when the rest of ours does."

As governor, Sebelius is drawing just over $100,000 a year. Corcoran said she “earns zero sick leave or vacation, and does state business every day of the week – no matter where she is.”

Sebelius was an early supporter of Obama and was on his short list of vice presidential possibilities.

But her activities on Obama’s behalf have accelerated since Sarah Palin’s nomination as Sen. John McCain’s running mate electrified Republican voters. In fact, Sebelius and Missouri's Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill are among the leaders of a group calling themselves the “Obama Girls.”

The original Obama Girl, scantily-clad model Amber Lee Ettinger, has become something of an Internet sensation for her titillating and adoring videos promoting Obama’s candidacy.

Karl Peterjohn, executive director of the Kansas Taxpayers Network, said this wasn’t Sebelius’ first foray into controversial travel.

He said several years ago taxpayers picked up part of the tab to take Sebelius to Turkey, where she addressed the Bilderberg Group, organizers of an annual, VIP gathering that meets in luxury resorts around the world. “She pointed out at the time that Texas Gov. Rick Perry addressed the same group, but the fact is taxpayers didn’t help fund [his] trip.”

Sebelius’ office says none of the governor’s campaign trips on Obama’s behalf are being funded by Kansans, nor is she using a state plane for travel.

- Phil LaCerte

Resource:

• Kansas Taxpayers Network: www.kansastaxpayers.com

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