There isn’t a more fascinating aspect of this race than the dynamics of Chuck Hagel, Dave Heineman, Jon Bruning, Tom Osborne, and the rest of the Republican Party. I wrote a great deal about this last month, and don’t really have a lot to add to it at this time.

The sides are forming for a primary that in all likelihood will never take place. As noted below, virtually no one in D.C. or Nebraska Republican circles thinks that Chuck Hagel is going to run for reelection. Then again, Hagel’s intentions are incredibly difficult to read.

Adrian Smith and Shane Osborn - along with Bruning, the only elected Nebraska Republicans who were not hosts of Chuck Hagel’s May fundraiser - are seemingly on Bruning’s team. And it comes as no surprise at all that Tom Osborne has sided with Bruning, too. Interesting parallels between Hagel’s preemptive endorsement of Heineman in 2005, and Osborne’s backing of Bruning now.

The 2006 Governor’s race was fascinating in a different light - the seedy underbelly hidden by the celebrity status of Osborne and the bland incumbency of the unelected governor. There are no such factors obscuring the bloodbath this time - this is a battle over power. Hagel may yet have to cede control of the state Republican Party, but if he does, it will be to the new kingmaker - the one he helped create in 2006.

We’ve been over this enough to know that the one unacceptable outcome for Gov. Dave Heineman is Senator Jon Bruning. Bruning’s figuring that his best chance is to position himself as the “anti-Hagel” in this race, regardless of whether or not Hagel will ultimately run.

Where Heineman ultimately falls if Hagel opts not to run is anyone’s guess. Does he back Republican Party insider Hal Daub? Does Mike Johanns get in the race? Does Tony Raimondo? There are a number of scenarios that we could see play out in the next several months. We’ll see where they lead.