Former Rep. Jim Ryun, running for the GOP nod in Kansas’ 2nd district, topped state Treasurer Lynn Jenkins by 44 points in a late-April poll that was released by his campaign Wednesday afternoon.

Ryun and Jenkins are battling in the Aug. 5 primary for the right to face Rep. Nancy Boyda (D) in November. Boyda defeated Ryun in 2006 despite the strong Republican bent of the eastern Kansas 2nd district.

Ryun’s internal poll found that he led Jenkins 65 percent to 21 percent, showing a net gain for the former Congressman since he polled at this time last year. Last May, Ryun’s internal polling had him out in front of Jenkins by a margin of 61 percent to 27 percent.

Ryun’s poll, conducted by Republican pollster Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies on April 27 and 28, surveyed 350 likely GOP voters, and had a margin of error of 5.66 points.

The Jenkins campaign declined to comment.

— David M. Drucker