Nebraska Senate Race For Ben Nelson's Seat Starts To Narrow

Democrats in Nebraska have been scrambling for a candidate to replace retiring Sen. Ben Nelson, whose seat is likely to go Republican in 2012. The odds of a GOP pickup increased when former Sen. Bob Kerrey, considered one of the strongest possible candidates, decided not to run.

And yet another potential candidate, Omaha State Sen. Steve Lathrop, bowed out on Monday, the Omaha World-Herald reports. “I want to continue to serve in the Legislature. I think there are significant issues facing the state,” he said, according to the paper.

That leaves a clear path for Chuck Hassebrook, a University of Nebraska regent who's set to declare his candidacy on Tuesday. The primary election is set for May 15.

10 more election stories from outside the presidential field:

Former White House Adviser Weighs Run In Latino-Majority New York District [City & State]

Debbie Stabenow Nets Huge Fundraising Haul Off "Offensive" Pete Hoekstra Ad [ABC]

California Democratic Party Endorses Janice Hahn Over Laura Richardson [Roll Call

Virginia Democrats Aim For A Comeback [The Washington Post]

Democratic Super PAC Plans To Target Republican Senate Candidates [California Watch]

Lois Frankel's Opponent Is Former Campaign Manager's Son [The Palm Beach Post]

Mazie Hirono Holds Strong Lead In Hawaii Senate Race [The Hill]

North Carolina Democrat's Messy Divorce Under Scrutiny [Raleigh News & Observer]

Super PAC Targets Congressional Incumbents [USA Today]

Dina Titus Poised To Run For Democratic Safe Seat [Las Vegas Sun]

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[Brian R Macmillan]

07:57 AM on 02/14/2012

I think that Warren Buffet should run for this senate seat as an independent. Its the only chance of having it filled by someone who is not a right wing lunatic.

[ChumpChicken]

07:54 AM on 02/14/2012

Thank God Ben Nelson is retiring! He'll no doubt fall nicely into a lobbying organization somewhere, and the revolving door will continue to swing....

[gurukalehuru]

07:08 AM on 02/14/2012

Nelson wasn't really a Democrat. He is no great loss.

[Skunkman]

07:46 AM on 02/14/2012

Good morning gurukalehuru: Great short post. You put Nelson
in his place, The GOP. Thank you. It will be my pleasure to follow
your new posts.

Fanned & faved

Mike:

[StillAmused]

04:36 AM on 02/14/2012

Considering that Nebraska Dems gave us Nelson in the first place, may I suggest an inexpensive rubber doorstop?

It'll cause less damage than another Nelson-like Dem... OR a Republican.

[emiliob6]

02:53 AM on 02/14/2012

The only way a Democrat can win in Nebraska is to be as conservative as Ben Nelson, the only gain is keeping the majority in the Senate because he or she will vote like a Republican just as Ben Nelson did. IMO

[opprobrious]

02:34 AM on 02/14/2012

If a Ben Nelson falls in the senate do the Democrats notice?

[paul87920]

02:15 AM on 02/14/2012

I really didn't like Ben Nelson much myself, and while he was not a reliable Democrat vote, he wasn't a reliable Republican vote either. For those of you saying they might as well have a Republican, let me tell you something. I come from a state much like Nebraska. I live in the Midwestern Republican state of Indiana. You might be familiar with our former "Democrat" Senator Evan Bayh. Yeah, he made some awful choices and wasn't a reliable Democrat vote, but guess who replaced him? Republican Dan Coats a very reliable Republican vote. Do not give up on that seat. You'll regret it if you do.

[emiliob6]

02:56 AM on 02/14/2012

Agree ! Don't like it but you are so right.

[lamonth]

06:25 AM on 02/14/2012

on social issues the pendulum goes both ways and each party in power has a tendency to turn off the public. however no matter who is in power both parties are always scheming to keep the scales tilted in the favor of politician and the richest of this nation (and world)

[notverySuttle]

01:47 AM on 02/14/2012

It is nice to see another Republican vacating a seat and giving opportunity to Nebraska to possibly elect a Progressive.

[SiameseTrainer]

01:38 AM on 02/14/2012

Shouldn't be hard to fill Ben"s shoes, just find an out of work repoblican who needs the money.

[Bruce Joseph]

01:35 AM on 02/14/2012

Ben Nelson will be missed - by the GOP.

[gumbo1049]

11:26 PM on 02/13/2012

Good Riddance corrupt blue dawg.

[porscheguy]

10:36 PM on 02/13/2012

Maybe they could get Palin to run. They both seem to be of the same cloth.

[GeneEUss]

11:44 PM on 02/13/2012

True.... but his Bump-It fits over the top of all of his head though.

[RLaitres]

10:32 PM on 02/13/2012

The Nebraska Democrats have a choice. They can either throw up their hands and give up or they can get a true Democrat to run and support her/him. A note of caution though. If you throw up your hands now, get prepared for a long hard politiccal winter. Colorado had its own "DINO" in William NightHorse Campbell" and it took the State years to recover and, in many ways and in many places the Democratic Party has not yet recovered and the future does not look promising. Do the Democrats in Nebraska want to suffer the same fate.

[Blak]

10:13 PM on 02/13/2012

Meh...The man voted like a republican anyway. If this seat falls to a repub, it will be more of the same .

[taddles]

11:02 PM on 02/13/2012

At least we won't be spending time and energy trying to get him to vote with the Dems.

[Jay Robert Harris]

03:17 AM on 02/14/2012

Yeah, but when the possibility of one senator making the difference between control of the chamber is a possibility, Democrats need that one seat. So, there is a difference at least in party registration that could make a big difference. Controlling committees does make a difference.

[sviolette]

05:40 AM on 02/14/2012

He was never that one seat. He is nothing but a turncoat.

[TeamAnarchy]

10:04 PM on 02/13/2012

Ben Nelson is an obstructionist republican, writhing his way through the grass.

Democrats should be scrambling to make sure this office is not a Republican turn-turn coat apparatus if anything.