Well, it looks like Jon Bruning’s going to officially announce his candidacy for U.S. Senate on Thursday, making him the first officially announced candidate for the Nebraska Senate race in 2008.
My read of the situation is this: The longer Chuck Hagel waits to get into this race, the less support he’s going to have. His March 12 press conference was a huge strategic blunder, and it may already be too late for Hagel to regain the support of Republicans in Nebraska. Bruning has established himself as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination at this point. It will be very interesting to see where he stands when the Q2 fundraising numbers come out July 15.
As for our candidate? Rumors are getting stronger on that front for Bob Kerrey. Hopefully it’s just a matter of time, now. I’m all for the strongest candidate to take this seat back. This will be the most important race in the state in 2008. Taking this seat back will have a ripple effect throughout the party. If we do this right, we may pick up a House seat, or (dare we dream?) even two.
Game on, ladies and gentlemen. We have a unique opportunity to change the map in Nebraska. Let’s take it.
Maybe I’m misreading my tea leaves. but I only see problems with Kerrey as our Senate nominee. First, he hasn’t lived in Nebraska for years. Is there a residency requirement such as Breaux ran up against in Louisianna? In some ways this seems similar to the Kate Witek fiasco. Issues about possible atrocities committed by Kerrey in Vietnam may also resurface. He was also considered to be too liberal by many Nebraskans (though his recent positions may have blunted this argument). Finally, I don’t see any Kerrey coattails. Kerrey, like Nelson, is basically for himself. Damn the party unless it can help me. I see little party building with his candidacy. We need another Jim Exon (though with more liberal positions), but I’m not seeing one.
Believe me, I had some of the same reservations. But let’s not compare this to Kate Witek. It is nothing like that. Kerrey has always been a great supporter of the Nebraska Democratic Party. I’ve taken issue with a couple of his positions, but he’s a strong candidate. He has been and will be a great Senator for Nebraska. And against a lightweight like Jon Bruning? I’d look forward to that race.