Don Erbert made his displeasure with Laura Kelly known Tuesday night when he took the stage at the Republican watch party in Topeka and sang about the imminent death of the Democratic governor-elect.

As Kelly's victory was coming into focus, Erbert — who owns the notorious flag-painted Jeep with a mounted replica machine gun and Donald Trump bobblehead that Kris Kobach used in parades during his campaign for governor — presented himself in front of the withering crowd, hoping to spark enthusiasm for an unlikely Kobach comeback.

The popular songs that blared throughout the first two hours of the event were silenced as Erbert addressed Republican supporters. The Iola resident belted out the chorus of "American Pie," concluding with a slight revision: "This will be the day that Laura Kelly dies."

He also asked if anyone wanted to hear some Tom Jones, then performed a few lines from the Cole Porter-penned "Delilah."

"She stood there laughing," Erbert sang. "I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more."

The crowd cheered in both instances, but Erbert was performing in the large room without a microphone, and it wasn't clear how many people could make out the words.

Jim Joice, executive director of the Kansas Republican Party, tried to distance the organization from Erbert's remarks.

"We were not aware of the tone-deaf comments made by Mr. Erbert on election night," Joice said. "Mr. Erbert commandeering the podium was not approved by the Kansas Republican Party, and we have had no communication with Mr. Erbert throughout the entire cycle."

Erbert didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment, and a spokeswoman for Kobach didn't respond to questions.

During Kelly's acceptance speech that night, she lamented "the lack of decency, the insults and the fighting" that people see in Washington, D.C., and promised to set "the right tone" as governor.

Her spokeswoman, Ashley All, said the rhetoric used by Erbert was disappointing. Kelly, she said, "will work hard to change the tone in Topeka and encourage civil discussion of the issues impacting our families."

Kobach gained attention for using Erbert's Jeep in July when he rode in it during the Old Shawnee Days Parade. The sight of the fake gun at a family event invited immediate outcry, which Kobach derided as "snowflake" whining from the fringe left. He refused to apologize and continued to deploy the Jeep at parades and public appearances throughout the general election.

The vehicle was parked at the entrance to the Capitol Plaza Hotel, where the watch party was held. On stage, Erbert described Kobach as a hunting buddy, which is how Kobach first laid eyes on his Jeep.

"He saw it and said, 'Don, we need to put that in a parade,' " Erbert said. "The first parade he drove it was Shawnee, Kansas. I had no idea. I was going up to have fun."

Recalling the close primary race in August, Erbert encouraged the crowd to remember that Kobach trailed for much of election night before pulling ahead.

"I don't know what's going to happen tonight," Erbert said. "I don't have a clue. I don't know anything about politics. I know about hunting. But I believe, I still believe, he's got a chance."

TV networks called the race for Kelly as Erbert was leaving the stage.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, who has worked alongside Kelly as Democrats representing Topeka in the Senate, said Erbert's comments warrant scrutiny from the Kansas Highway Patrol's Capitol Police, even if they were meant in jest.

"I would say he was beyond inappropriate," Hensley said. "I don't think it's an acceptable form of humor when you talk about stabbing someone."

Sen. Barbara Bollier, a Mission Hills Republican who endorsed Kelly, said the remarks were "totally unacceptable."

"Civil society calls for us to have an election and then move to working for the good of the people together," Bollier said.

Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University, said Kansas politics has a bit of history with "joking around" about killing people. He recalled comments made in 2011 by former state Rep. Virgil Peck, R-Tyro, who suggested during a committee hearing that undocumented immigrants could be shot from helicopters like feral hogs.

"In this case," Beatty said, "just as unfortunate as the line about Laura Kelly dying is the laughter afterwards. In an era of mass shootings, it’s not too much to ask political leaders and their campaigns to make clear lines that should not be crossed, no matter how upset they are with their opponents."

Ethan Corson, executive director of the Kansas Democratic Party, said Kelly won the election in part because voters wanted a change in tone, "and for a less harsh, less mean-spirited, less personal kind of politics. We are not each other's enemies. We are all Kansans, even when we disagree."