Posted on 09/08/2007 10:48:19 AM PDT by Clintonfatigued
The political winds are picking up in Nebraska, but determining which direction they'll go has become a game of speculation swirling around the intentions of Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel.
The air of uncertainty began when Hagel, 60, promised to discuss his political future at an Omaha news conference in March, and many expected the second-term senator to announce a bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
Instead, Hagel simply said he was leaving his options open, raising a number of questions and the possibility that he might not run for re-election. The lack of certainty foreshadowed a possible showdown that could include the likes of former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, heavy hitters in Nebraska politics who might be lured back by an open seat.
In August, Kerrey told the board of directors at New School University -- where he is president -- that he is contemplating running for the Senate again, after deciding in 2000 not to seek a third term.
Many suspect that if Hagel is out, Johanns, 57, may jump in -- and if he did, he could quickly become the GOP front-runner. The former Republican governor left midway through his second term to take the Cabinet job.
Johanns has scheduled appearances in Omaha and Grand Island this month, but his spokeswoman said this week that he won't be making any announcements during the trip.
(Excerpt) Read more at siouxcityjournal.com ...
Hopefully, Mike Johanns will make a decision soon.
Heineman said he would't run if Hagel would run for another term. Well, Heineman can run for the senate now.
Good point. I wonder why Heineman’s name has’s been mentioned yet?
As a member of the Bush administration, Mike Johanns wouldn’t have a chance.
That's just silly.
Johanns is well liked here in Nebraska.
There is a lot of baggage that comes from being a member of an administration. After nearly 8 years, Bush fatigue is certainly setting in, even in midwest. It is just a fact of life in politics.
Johanns certainly could comeback, but I think he will need to sit out a few years.
He’s the most liberal potential GOP candidate anyways, which is no surprise coming from the Bush administration.
I think Nebraska conservatives are going to want a clean break, that’s all.
I still hope Dave Heineman will run. He is both highly popular and very conservative.
A Johanns v. Kerrey race would be one of the premiere Senate races of the upcoming cycle. Conservatives cheering the retirement of Hagel, a strong conservative on all but one issue, may be whistling a different tune if Nebraska ends up with two Dem senators.
Is Johanns on our side, or is he another Hagel?
The big surprise at Monday’s announcement will be that Ron paleoPaulie, Dingy Harry Reid, Nancy Facelift Pelosi and Traitor John Murtha will join upChuck and announce that they are all converting to Wahabi Islam out of deference to their masters and mullahs. Not a surprise that they would do it but a big surprise that they would admit it publicly.
One way or the other we do not need traitors in the Senate and particularly not “Republican” traitors. We can do a LOT better than upChuck.
It’s not too far from the truth to say that Nebraska’s had a Republican who votes like a Democrat, and a Democrat who votes like a Republican the past several years. I actually hate to hear that Hagel’s probably retiring because former Democrat Senator Kerrey will apparently run once again if Hagel’s dropping out. - I thought a good Republican would definitely defeat Hagel in the primary.
Hopefully, Nebraska won’t send Bob Kerry back to the Senate. It’s be a big blow to Republicans for that state to have two Democrat senators.
I don’t think Kerrey will make it even if he does run. He’s more Hagel thant Hagel.
I agree that we can do better than Hagel, and a Sen. Bruning or a Sen. Johanns would be fantastic. However, Kerrey said he would not run if Hagel ran for re-election. Now, it looks like Kerrey probably will run, and we’ll have yet another toss-up Republican seat in an election cycle where the deck is already stacked against us.
NE people are very independent and do not decide elections on the basis of a party label. That always seems to held Democrats there.
I think Bob Kerry’s times have come and gone. I can’t see him competing in todays environment and getting significant votes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.