NEB-SEN: It Worked - Kerrey Likely Scared Out By Johanns

Red State ^ | September 21, 2007

[Clintonfatigued]

Take one senate seat off the table.

"The officials haven’t lost all hope – Mr. Kerrey is headed back to Nebraska for a quick weekend trip, perhaps the Midwestern air will influence his thinking – but they are all but certain he will not enter the race to fill the seat of retiring Senator Chuck Hagel."

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/21/kerrey-is-still-mulling-a-...

According to Kos, Kerrey was supposed to announce today, so Johanns probably announced just in time to scare Bob Kerrey out of it.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/9/21/1462/71700

Turns out, Kerrey may be more interested in running for Mayor of New York City than running for Nebraska's U.S. Senate seat. I'm not sure that this would go over so well in Nebraska.

So, without Bob Kerrey in the race, Nebraska Republicans can feel free to nominate whomever they choose - Bruning or Johanns - and be confident that they will hold the Senate seat for the GOP.

[Clintonfatigued]

Wow! Is it really true? Is Bob Kerrey backing out of the Senate race?

If it’s so, than to quote the infamous Mr. Burns, “Excellent!”

[LdSentinal]

He would have lost any way. Nebraska in 2008 is much more Republican than during Kerrey's term and he would be running against Johanns.

Also, Nebraska voters see too much of "New York" in Kerrey.

[Dutch Boy]

Nebraska, New York.... Don’t these democrats have a home?

[NeoCaveman]

I wonder if the fact that both Norman Hsu and Bernie Schwartz are both on his board of the New School played into his thinking...

[Enchante]

Not only Hsu and Schwartz, but Fred Hochberg (Dean) and Maggie Williams (on Board for New School’s management school) are cropping us in the Hsu-gate story:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1899763/posts?page=88#56

Kerrey might have been realizing that there is a lot more Clintonista dirty laundry to be aired at the New School, which would not exactly help his electoral prospects in Nebraska.

[Clintonfatigued]

This race isn’t over yet. Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey or rancher Scott Kleeb (who ran a credible race in an overwhelimingly GOP district last year) may still run if Kerrey doesn’t. But the race is no longer in the “toss-up” column.

[George W. Bush]

I don’t like Johanns deserting his post as governor to become SecAg and now deserting his post as SecAg to race back to Nebraska to scoop up a Senate seat. An opportunist.

I’ll support Bruning.

[Clintonfatigued]

You’re from Nebraska?

[George W. Bush]

Obviously.

[Clintonfatigued]

Speaking of opportunism, you should read this:

http://leavenworthstreet.blogspot.com/2007/04/jon-bruning-angry-young-man.html

[sphinx]

I’m a Party guy. All things being equal, I want the most electable conservative Republican available to step up and take the shot. Johanns is a classy guy. I hope he wins. Your mileage may differ.

[George W. Bush]

Anyone who wants to run for public office shouldn’t write anything publicly until they’re at least 30!

[George W. Bush]

Johanns is a classy guy.

It wasn't very classy when he deliberately sold that hospital without any restriction on performing abortions in it.

[ulm1]

Rumor is Janet Reno is considering moving to fill the seat

[Clintonfatigued]

LOL- you forgot the sarcasm tag.

[WOSG]

YEEEHAW!!

That’s Texan ... dunno how they say it in Nebraska.

[shhrubbery!]

Turns out, Kerrey may be more interested in running for Mayor of New York City

Where he aspires to be the second coming of John V. Lindsay, no doubt.

Ha, what a joke Lindsay was. Bob Grant called him "the tower of jelly." Another pathetic Kennedy wannabe, like Kerrey. (Though at least Kerrey has some Irish background presumably. Lindsay was a WASP.)

[kabar]

I prefer Bruning’s stance on immigration. We don’t need a another Bushbot Rep senator from Nebraska on that issue.

[WOSG]

Here is a gem:

“I am very proud of our party tonight. This convention has shown to all America a party united, with positive programs for solving the nation’s problems; a party ready to build a new consensus with all those across the land who share a community of values embodied in these words: family, work, neighborhood, peace and freedom. ... More than anything else, I want my candidacy to unify our country; to renew the American spirit and sense of purpose. I want to carry our message to every American, regardless of party affiliation, who is a member of this community of shared values.” - Ronald Reagan, July 1980.

Everything else on that thread is noise.

[mimaw]

Oh please, deserting his post!

[George W. Bush]

Vote for who you want. I'm sick of deserters (Johanns) and carpetbaggers (Osborne, Hagel).

If they want elected, finish their current jobs first. And make your primary residence in the state (or district) where you seek office. It's not that much to ask.

[George W. Bush]

I prefer Bruning’s stance on immigration.

I thought he was eloquent. Pretty hard for him to back down after saying that.

Hopefully, Club For Growth will help Bruning with money. I think Johanns won't qualify with the Club. LOL.

[RJS1950]

Nebraska was evidently too conservative and rural for him to live in.

[Non-Sequitur]

Don’t count your chickens yet. There are other Democrats who might run a strong race, especially if the Republican primary is contested and the Democrat primary is not.

[LS]

So far, this is the best news of the entire election season. Not only do we "save" a GOP seat, but we replace a total RINO with someone who is at least somewhat more conservative. A "two-fer."

The polling yesterday from Survey USA for both Rudy and Fred in OH and KY is also reassuring.

[Suzy Quzy]

Bob Kerrey is up to his Light-Bulb head in the HSU scandal!!!