Posted on 11/04/2010 3:34:46 PM PDT by NoobRep
Gov. Dave Heineman today said he's turning down a chance to run for the U.S. Senate in 2012. That race would have pitted him against incumbent Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., setting up a clash of two Nebraska political giants.
Heineman said he already had the "best job in America" and didn't want to live in Washington.
Republicans, he told a press conference this afternoon, have plenty of strong candidates to challenge Nelson, whom he said had "embarrassed" the state by providing the deciding vote for the federal health-care reforms.
Attorney General Jon Bruning and Don Stenberg, who was elected state treasurer on Tuesday, are among the presumed GOP candidates for the seat.
Heineman said he made his decision following his landslide, re-election victory on Tuesday night over Democrat Mike Meister.
The quick decision came as a surprise since the 62-year-old Republican had previously said he would take up to six months to decide.
A spokeswoman for Bruning said that her boss will hold a press conference to annouce his decision at 10 a.m. Friday.
Bruning had raised over $1 million for a run for U.S. Senate in 2008 and then dropped out when Mike Johnanns, a former governor then serving as U.S. secretary of agriculture, announced that he was a candidate.
(Excerpt) Read more at omaha.com ...
“didn’t want to live in Washington”
Purely understandable.
This is going to be interesting...
To save his own .. in Nebraska, Nelson is going to be FORCED to support much of what comes up from the Republican Congress, even if he knows Obama will Veto it.
Disappointing about Heineman but I hope you are right about Mr Bruning being a strong candidate. Guess I can’t blame Heineman since he just got reelected and probably would have to start running for the Senate early in his new term.
This seat is one they can win and it will help propel the GOP to a majority in ‘12. The other Nelson in FL should be dumped too.
The RAT Nelson’s fate was sealed with the Cornhusker Kickback and his vote for Obamacare. People here haven’t and won’t forget.
Ben, we’re coming after you next.
Sheesh can’t we just put ‘10 to bed before worrying about ‘12? Why don’t we just have elections every year for crying out loud
Bruning is a strong candidate — and with him leading the charge on AGs national Obamcare lawsuit, he’s a perfect match for Nelson.
Ben Nelson is one of five or six Democrats that I think (barring a monumental change in the political climate) are going to be in trouble in 2012. It’s up to the voters of Nebraska, of course. But I think he’ll be defeated by any credible GOP challenger.
EASY GOP pick-up!
UHHH NO! We need RIGHT NOW to start on the 2012 AND 2014 elections. JUST LIKE the Pregessives do.
Nope-it’s time for Ben Nelson to start packing his bags immediately. Bruning needs to come out swinging-I think he’ll be on the attack from day 1.
Isn't today day 1?
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