Posted on 05/21/2008 8:29:48 PM PDT by Red Steel
In the race to become Nebraska’s next United States Senator, Mike Johanns (R) leads Scott Kleeb (D) by fifteen percentage points. The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the race shows Johanns earning 55% of the vote while Kleeb attracts support from 40%.
The two men are seeking to replace Republican Senator Chuck Hagel who decided against seeking re-election.
Johanns is supported by 78% of Republicans, Kleeb by 72% of Democrats, and unaffiliated voters are evenly divided.
Johanns is viewed favorably by 65% of the state’s voters, including 27% who have a Very Favorable opinion of the Republican candidate. Kleeb is viewed favorably by 56%, a figure that includes 17% with a Very Favorable opinion of the Democratic hopeful.
While Johanns is leading in Nebraska, the Democrats have at least a chance of picking up Republican seats in ten states--Virginia, Alaska, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon, Minnesota, Kentucky and Texas.. Two other Republican incumbents, Susan Collins in Maine and Pat Roberts in Kansas, are hovering just above the 50% mark in their bid for re-election. Republicans are struggling across the board and the number of Americans who consider themselves to be Democrats has soared to record highs.
Johanns was elected Governor of Nebraska in 1998. Four years later, he was re-elected by a 69% to 27% margin. Before completing his second term, he went to Washington and served as Secretary of Agriculture.
Kleeb, just 32 years old, ran for Congress from Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District in 2006. He lost that race by ten percentage points but easily won the Democratic Primary last week to represent his party in this year’s Senate race.
Governor Dave Heineman (R) may be an asset for Johanns this campaign season. Sixty-four percent (64%) of Nebraska voters say Heineman is doing a good or an excellent job as Governor. Just 9% say he is doing a poor job.
In the Presidential race, John McCain leads Barack Obama in Nebraska.
See survey questions and toplines. Crosstabs are available for Premium Members only.
Hagel isn’t a Republican so this seat could be a pickup for the GOP.
Yes, that’s the way I see it.
Praying for a Republican win.
Here’s the rare good news for a Republican Senate candidate.
If he lives up to what his website says, he’ll be a welcome addition to the conservative side of the Senate.
Just like the presidential race, there is no conservative to vote for...
Is that the husband of that moron girl on Fox?
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