I’m not really sure what to make of this news, anymore. Perhaps it should teach me that we can’t really predict what Hagel’s going to do, and that even though he’s giving every indication right now that he will be running for reelection, that might not actually be the case.
Behlen Manufacturing chairman and prominent Republican donor Tony Raimondo is considering a run for Senate:
The list of Nebraska Republicans interested in running for the U.S. Senate grew Wednesday as Columbus businessman Tony Raimondo confirmed that he is testing the political waters.
He said he would “probably not” run if incumbent Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel decides to seek a third term, saying he respects the senator’s voting record on business.
“I’m thinking about putting an exploratory group together. I am in no hurry at the present time, but I’m starting to talk to people right now,” Raimondo said in a telephone interview.
Still wondering what it all means, of course. But I think it speaks a lot to the level of confusion this Senate race is presenting in the Republican Party right now. And I’m not exactly sure what to think of the “probably not” comment.
If Hagel wants to make me look like a jackass and announce his retirement tomorrow, he’s more than welcome to. In the meantime, I’m operating under the assumption that he’s running.
If he’s big buds with the Benator I doubt he cares much about hurting Chuckies feelings. Sounds like he would have to put up Pete Ricketts type spending numbers in order to win, especially considering he surely won’t be backed by the Republican Party.
He’s given Hagel money before, but then again he’s not really interested in supporting the candidate so much as covering his bases. Case in point: he donated to Ben Nelson and a potential Republican opponent in 2000, to Lee Terry and Jim Simon in 2002, to Adrian Smith and Scott Kleeb in 2006.
I just doubt that any candidate outside of Bruning would dare run against Hagel. For one thing, they’d be persona non grata in the GOP if they lost, and for another, they wouldn’t stand a chance of winning if they split the “anti-Hagel” vote.
I think your assessment on this one is right Dave.
He won’t run if Hagel does because doing so would be stupid. But he’s making noise now because he doesn’t want Bruning to solidify the position as the anti-hagel. If Bruning does that, and succeeds in scaring Hagel out of the race, then Bruning will have all the money and media attention ready to cake-walk through the primary.
I think Bruning has made a smart political move by banging the pots and pans for this run so early. It makes Hal Daub just look like a 3rd rate candidate, and since Terry’s not running then it pretty much sets up Bruning as THE person int he race who isn’t named Chuck.
Tony Raimondo is making some noise now to make sure that if Hagel doesn’t run and Tony therefore decides to seek the nomination, people will have already heard of him. Tony must also know that he isn’t going to get Chuck’s endorsement if that happens, which means he’ll be angling for the anti-bruning, anti-hagel vote.
whew! it’s all so convoluted I don’t even know what to think!
as for Fort… I keep hearing his name so much, that something tells me his staffers must be spreading the rumor. I know he has the kind of ambition to run for Senate, and with Terry out of the race he’d be a pretty strong candidate for the nomination against bruning and Tony Raimondo and Hal Daub.
like I said, convoluted.