Bob Kerrey Will Run For Nebraska Senate Seat

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.), reversing his decision from just weeks ago, has decided to run for his old seat in 2012, according to multiple media reports on Monday.

The news was first reported by The Washington Post.

Kerrey has not officially made an announcement or filed paperwork to run. Paul Johnson, a former campaign manager of Kerrey's, denied the reports to the AP but said that he's reconsidering his decision.

Kerrey faces a difficult battle for election in one of the most Republican states in the country. He also faces challenges having lived in New York City since 2001 and having not been on the state ballot since 1994. However, his stature gives Democrats some hope for retaining the seat.

The seat first opened up in late December when Kerrey's successor, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), announced he would not run for reelection. That decision precipitated speculation that Kerrey would run.

Just weeks ago, Kerrey said he would not run for the seat for family reasons. "I have given the decision of becoming a candidate for the U.S. Senate very serious thought and prayer," he said in an email to supporters on Feb. 7. "To those who urged me to do so, I am sorry, very sorry to have disappointed you. I hope you understand that I have chosen what I believe is best for my family and me."

Kerrey served in the U.S. Senate from 1989 to 2001. Upon leaving the Senate, Kerrey served as the president of The New School, a university located in Greenwich Village in New York City, leaving in 2010. Kerrey ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1992.

University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook and attorney Steven Lustgarten have announced they are running on the Democratic side. State Attorney General Jon Bruning, state Treasurer Don Stenberg, state Sen. Deb Fischer, investment adviser Pat Flynn and Air Force Veteran Spencer Zimmerman are running on the Republican side.

In an interview with the AP in January, Kerrey admitted the odds are not in his favor. "I would say if you bet ... you'd have to bet against me," he said. "I've been away 11 years. I'm a Democrat. Obama's going to top the ticket, and he's probably going to be unpopular. So I'd say the odds are probably not good."

Comments

[FreedToChoose]

06:19 PM on 02/28/2012

In an earlier post on this I noted that Governor Kerrey had been a Navy SEAL and was a Medal of Honor recipient which may disqualify him as a Republican. Another poster reminded me that John McCain was a Navy hero and solid Republican. While true, I, too, was a Republican in John's early days and left the party when it was suggested my thinking for myself was inappropriate.

I wonder whether Senator McCain would run as a Republican if he was beginning his political career this year. He might, but I think he would fare better as an Independent, the maverick he was in the past before Potomac Fever took its toll.

I think Governor Kerrey will win... unless Tom Osborne runs against him. after all, football trumps politics in Nebraska... Go Huskers!

[Zip Zinzel]

11:28 PM on 02/27/2012

It is really sad that such a distinguished former Senator is expected not to win in an election against a generic, undeclared GOP candidate.
BUT that's because Nebraska is such a far-right state, which is why former Dem Ben Nelson was such an unreliable Democrat.

[reliant1]

11:37 PM on 02/27/2012

Actually there are declared GOP candidates here. He was elected here once. He was elected govenor here as well. He has been away for along time...but if he can get his campaign up and going pretty fast he can catch up and he has at least a long shot at the seat.

It's red here...but at least it's not full of evangelicals like some other red states. We'll work hard for Kerrey and hope for the best.

[Zip Zinzel]

12:23 AM on 02/28/2012

Reliant- I sure hope you are right.

FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, I am afraid that the rightwing TEA-Zombies are more numerous, more devoted, and more entrenched than most sensible people imagine.

[FreedToChoose]

06:13 PM on 02/28/2012

As a Nebraskan by birth, I think I know the independent thinking to which you refer. If my take is correct, Nebraska has something in common with Maine in that regard. I hope Kerrey wins.

[gbp91]

08:25 AM on 02/28/2012

all democrates are unreliable. you see the terrible shape the country is in now. hope and change? give me a break

[sirgeek]

10:22 AM on 02/28/2012

You mean due to the republican obstruction of the House and Senate and their repeated attempts to do anything/everything to make the president look bad JUST because he's a democrat ?

[BIG AL 2]

10:32 PM on 02/27/2012

Excellent. We need more good people and less baggers in the Senate.

[rickie007]

04:10 AM on 02/28/2012

yes yes and hell yes

[OldKatt]

10:16 PM on 02/27/2012

Good decision! Go get 'em!

[AnnieAdams]

05:50 PM on 02/29/2012

I'm so glad he changed his mind. And by the way, Obama won in Omaha.

[oldandbald]

12:26 PM on 03/03/2012

Obama won in Omaha, I believe he won in Lincoln, and he won rural Saline County. He also took 1 electoral vote from Nebraska. More than anything Bob Kerrey is an independent thinker who speaks his mind. I haven't always agreed with him but I've never felt he was owned by any particular special interest.

[Jeff Sadowsky]

10:10 PM on 02/27/2012

Gives us better shot to hold Senate. House is tough w/all the repub redistricting but possible. Would love Dems to Win it all & move this country forward w/o Obstruction for a change.

[frankath]

02:03 PM on 02/28/2012

Sheesh. If we could ONLY get shed of Lee Terry. There HAS TO BE someone better. There just HAS TO BE! But with the gerrymandering, we may be stuck with this freakin guy forever. with district like North Omaha - then add, say - North Bend. I know it's not that, but it SEEMS like that was what they were going for. How come Iowa managed to get it's districting pretty fair?

[mahalo gop]

09:14 PM on 02/27/2012

Bob kerrey will never get elected in Nebraska, the reason ben nelson isn't running is because he knows his odds where slim & none. The odds of bob kerrey winning are about the same as Nebraska changing their school colors from red to blue.

[rjlwis]

09:26 PM on 02/27/2012

There are enough independents that can take Kerry back to the Senate. After the coup of the Tea Party, any sensible voter sees real leadership.

[OldKatt]

10:17 PM on 02/27/2012

Well said.

[mahalo gop]

10:24 PM on 02/27/2012

"real leadership"? Ben nelson won't run for re-election for one reason and one reason only, HE WOULD LOSE. He chose to slip on his yellow skirt and hide in the corn field opposed to defending his and obama's record.

[Dodger300]

10:14 PM on 02/27/2012

You are awful sure of your opinion, but a little history indicates the race could be very competitive.

Over the past 36 years Nebraska has always elected at least one Democratic Senator: Jim Exon, Ed Zorinsky, Bob Kerry, and Ben Nelson. Not to mention, Obama even picked up an electoral vote in Nebraska.

It could get interesting in the Cornhusker state.

[mahalo gop]

10:21 PM on 02/27/2012

I think the people of Nebraska will use the Union Pacific motto "their way or the highway" and send bob kerrey packing back to New York. With fuel prices topping $4 a gallon not even the "oracle" of Omaha can help bob kerrey.

[sallywooo]

09:10 PM on 02/27/2012

Ben Nelson was the cloture vote to bring Omamacare to the floor..which was opposed by Nebraska.
The nebraska voter will be happy to send Kerry packing back to NY.

[reliant1]

11:47 PM on 02/27/2012

No they won't. NE voters are more than a little tired of the GOP losers...We have a history of electing Dems here. And it is even easier given the fact that I have had a least a dozen GOPers tell me over the weekend they'd vote Obama before voting for Mittens or St Rick....

[frankath]

02:08 PM on 02/28/2012

Speak for yourself, that is, IF you are a Nebraskan. We can be kinda tricky. If we decide we like someone, we might just, y'know, VOTE FOR THEM. Bob Kerrey is still very popular here. Sure it's an uphill battle, but it will be a good one. Plus, the more people find out about the ACTUAL healthcare reforms as they come into use, the more they like them. Ben quit because had lost the support ofNE Dems, not because he was afraid of the GOP.

[NebDem78]

08:41 PM on 02/27/2012

It is still not confirmed that he will run for the Senate seat.

[reliant1]

09:11 PM on 02/27/2012

We can hope!! We need him here in NE and we need him in the Senate.

;)

[frankath]

02:09 PM on 02/28/2012

True. It does sound more likely, though. Do it, Bob! We're behind ya!

[NebDem78]

02:13 PM on 02/28/2012

The Omaha World Herald has an article that states that he has till this Thursday to decide. Hopefully, he will.

[RonGallion]

08:37 PM on 02/27/2012

He looks like Hannibal Lecter's little brother. :) It's a joke

[DougSmith]

08:28 PM on 02/27/2012

Any democrat is better than any republican.

[VikingQuest]

08:37 PM on 02/27/2012

So you'd support the reelection of William J. Jefferson who was convicted of bribery and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment?

[Knowitall]

09:03 PM on 02/27/2012

Old news and a moot subject. But, looking at the Republican field, anything is better......

[For Realz]

08:58 PM on 02/27/2012

ABO

[maryoca]

08:20 PM on 02/27/2012

Please run, Bob, your country needs you!!

[VikingQuest]

08:14 PM on 02/27/2012

"He also faces challenges having lived in New York City since 2001 and having not been on the state ballot since 1994"

This type of thing should not be allowed . . .

[frankath]

02:12 PM on 02/28/2012

Why not? NY seemed quite happy with Hillary Clinton as senator. Our own Chuck Hagel, the last GOOD Republican senator from here, lived back East for many years, then came home, ran for Senate and won! He did a good job for the state and we are all grateful he did that. So, there is NO reason for it to not to happen again.

[don57]

08:12 PM on 02/27/2012

Good luck to you Bob, nice to see you back! Sure beats Ben Nelson.

[sallywooo]

08:29 PM on 02/27/2012

ben nelson say the writing on the wall.."I better retire rather than run on the obama ticket"

[Knowitall]

09:08 PM on 02/27/2012

It was Nelson's record, not the "Obama ticket", that was going to defeat him. Neither Democrats or Republicans would have voted for him. THAT was the writing on his wall.

[frankath]

01:56 PM on 02/28/2012

I refused to give any more money to NE Dems until they convinced Nelson to step down. I think that was a popular theme. We like having the seat, but it simply was NOT worth it. You couldn't count on him for anything. Might as well have another GOP sheep, because WITHOUT ANY SHADOW OF A DOUBT, NO WAVERING NO THOUGHT, the GOP sheep senators will vote the party line 100% of the time. And they have an unending number of spinless MEN to run for the seat - they are even PRIMARYING each other. BTW, Ben Nelson was one of Obama's FIRST supporters. The senator just wanted to try to play both sides of the street at the same time, and that does not work. You not only don't get to keep your job, you do it badly while you've got it. Too bad - I used to like and respect Sen. Nelson.

[AnnieAdams]

05:54 PM on 02/29/2012

Amen to that!

[chypher]

08:09 PM on 02/27/2012

can somebody please explane the shape of his head?
he looks like one of the band from the bar on tatoon when luke and obi wan were looking for a ship.

[frankath]

08:14 PM on 02/27/2012

Is this the ONLY photo you've ever seen of the man? Explanation = BAD photo.

[maryoca]

08:20 PM on 02/27/2012

can you explain to me how you never learned to spell

[maryoca]

08:21 PM on 02/27/2012

oops sorry I meant to reply to Chypher, not Frankath

[VikingQuest]

08:19 PM on 02/27/2012

He's either got a tiny chin or a giant top of the head.

[For Realz]

09:00 PM on 02/27/2012

Optics seem to be what many of you care most about. Shallow don't you think?

[SouthernBlues]

08:05 PM on 02/27/2012

Thanks, Bob! Good to see you jumping back into the fray!