Bob Kerrey Announces Run For Nebraska Senate Seat

WASHINGTON -- Former Nebraska senator and New York City college administrator Bob Kerrey completed a remarkable turnaround Wednesday, declaring he will run for the Democratic nomination for his old seat.

Just three weeks ago, Kerrey, who left the Senate to become president of the New School, said he would not get into the race, citing family concerns.

But he let it be known he had changed his mind Monday, and on Wednesday he made it official, releasing a low-key statement and declining to hold a press conference.

"This afternoon, I will file to become a candidate for the United States Senate in Nebraska," Kerrey said. "I came to realize that my previous decision was the easy one, not the right one. My commitment to serve Nebraska and America, and to be part of the debate about the challenges we face was too strong to dismiss. My family supports this decision 100 percent. I look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks. We have a lot of work to do."

Kerrey acknowledged that candidates do not usually enter high-stakes contests by sending out a press release.

"Doing things the conventional way has never been my strong suit," Kerrey said.

Republicans were prepared for Kerrey's announcement and responded almost immediately, casting the change of heart as likely stemming from a deal Senate Democrats had struck to lure Kerrey in.

"After making a backroom deal to get Nebraska's senior senator to vote for ObamaCare, it appears Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid has made a deal with an even more liberal Democrat Bob Kerrey," said National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Walsh in a statement.

"As Nebraskans reacquaint themselves with Kerrey they will quickly recognize that living in Greenwich Village for so many years tends to change a person," Walsh said. "Whether it's his support for cap-and-trade, his advocacy for a government-run health care system or his desire to raise taxes on Nebraska small businesses, Bob Kerrey is a loyal supporter of the Obama agenda and he's simply out-of-step with Nebraska."

Kerrey, who held the office from 1989 to 2001, will have to face fellow Democrat Chuck Hassebrook in a Democratic primary. Hassebrook resigned his post as a Regent at the University of Nebraska to run for the seat, after Kerrey initially said he would not.

Comments

[masanf]

11:03 PM on 03/03/2012

Sorry, but the notion that one of the most conservative states in the country is going to elect a liberal who hasn't lived in the state in over a decade is just plain laughable.

[oldnorsebruin]

12:12 AM on 03/02/2012

OBAMA who is actually SMART [NOT a spoiled brat IVY LEAGUE LEGACY (READ: BUSH)] knows when to send in the US SEALS: "Go get 'em MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER U.S. NAVY SEAL BOB KERREY!!!"

[l78lancer]

03:28 PM on 03/01/2012

Conservatives still haven't figured out that no matter how badly they wan't it to be, the word liberal isn't an insult.

[l78lancer]

03:25 PM on 03/01/2012

If Kerrey is more liberal that Reid, then it probably was not necessary to strike a deal with him on health care to change his mind.

Come on GOP. If you are going to make an allegation, at least charge something that makes sense.

[robertstone1robert]

01:48 PM on 03/01/2012

He was pres. of the New School. That,s the vanguard of hard left liberalism, the home of the hat-America crowd. They've got to elect somebody else. This is as a Conservative state. It needs adequate representation.

[CogentThought]

10:00 PM on 03/01/2012

BOOOOOOO!
We know you are scared. And trying to paint a Meadal of Honor Veteran as some one who "hates America" is well, foolish. What? He hated this Country so much he volunteered to train as a Navy Seal and loose a limb? What have you given up, for the Countrry you allegedly love so much?
And you will sit and wonder why you lost the Presidency, the Senate and The House this November. I will tell you in advance why you are going to loose. Your the things you say about Liberals is vile. Libreals have fought and died and given as much - or MORE - for this Nation than conservatives ever will.

[robertstone1robert]

09:05 AM on 03/02/2012

I know he served his country well in Viet Nam. There is no argument there. I never accused of him of anything.
By working at the New School he may have been co-opted by the hard left. That may be the reason they hired him in the first place.

[masanf]

11:02 PM on 03/03/2012

For the love of God, the word "lose" does not have two o's in it. I am sick and tired of reading posts from people who cannot spell a four letter word.

[chris16]

11:16 PM on 03/01/2012

I just proudly made a donation to Bob Kerrey. Since I live in beautiful blue CA my wonderful Senators are secure. I have a great deal of respect for Mr. Kerrey and Nebraska is fortunate that he decided to run again for the Senate.

[robertstone1robert]

09:09 AM on 03/02/2012

I'm glad you live in the nut capital of the world and have the Senators that you deserve.
Why is Nebraska fortunate with his candidacy?

[NoQuarter472]

11:58 AM on 03/01/2012

Kerrey, can run on obama's newest "jam-it-to-the-troops" effort, to jack up military insurance premiums by 345% and slashing 12.9 Billion dollars worth of active duty and retiree Tricare coverage. He can also say in the same breath, "while obama, makes the cut he is building a new $750,000 dollar Soccer Field for the poor terrorists (killers) at Guantanamo. The suffering detainees (murderers of our troops) are being treated to a state of the art, three recreation centers to endure their suffering. That gives you Drones an idea of how much the Empty Suit loves the Military.

[CogentThought]

10:04 PM on 03/01/2012

Senator Bob Kerry is a Decorated Navy Veteran. He fought for Veterans Rights all the time he was in the Senate. He still has to go to physical rehab to deal with the injuries he suffered fighting for this Country.
You should educate yourself before you spoout this nonsense. Start with a search of Medal of Honor recipients and then research what Vetrens have to say about Senator Kerry.

[hgoodguy]

11:00 AM on 03/01/2012

He is a good and decent man with a tough hide. Fortunatly, the Democrats seem to have a lot of good candidates on the back burner who, I believe will emerge between now and November!

[emdinkc]

09:47 AM on 03/01/2012

Knowing the disdain most Nebraskans have for Obamacare and the antics of Sen. Ben Nelson (who has since realized that he can't win re-election) to provide the deciding vote for that legislation, I would be suprised if ANY democrat will win election in Nebraska in 2012.

[azind]

10:15 AM on 03/01/2012

What part of The Affordable Healthcare Act are they against? Coverage for pre-existing conditions? The removal of the lifetime cap ? Being able to keep their children on their
insurance until the age of 26? The closing of the doughnut hole for senior's prescriptions?
The inability of their insurance companies to drop them when they get sick? I'm sure
they want the Republicans to protect them from all these horrible things which they've
pledged to get rid of.

[rsticks18]

10:49 AM on 03/01/2012

just the unaffordable part which is all of it

[hgoodguy]

10:58 AM on 03/01/2012

I agree with everything you have said but infortunately you are talking into deaf ears! They are basically "low information" people who have bought into the Republican Snow Job!

[CogentThought]

10:13 PM on 03/01/2012

Well you don't know Nebraska very well then. Senator Kerry was first elected Governor, then to the Senate, twice. He did not loose his Seat, he chose to run for President. Every Senator in that seat since has been a Democrat.
Ben Nelson lost popularity with the Democrats for his antics in the Senate, not the Republicans.
The only Republican that would stand an outside chance of beating Senator Kerry would be Tom Osbourne, and he isn't running. The two clowns that are running are light weights. The Senator will make hash of either of them.

[SpikeGCHjr]

09:41 AM on 03/01/2012

Wow...what an un-inspiring candidate. His response to whether he would run again (since being put out to pasture) has been, no, no, no, no and no. Now finally he says yes, likely at gunpoint by the DNC. Bet those Nebraska voters are just as inspired to vote for him. Think they are smarter than that!

[hgoodguy]

11:01 AM on 03/01/2012

FAIL!!

[CogentThought]

10:17 PM on 03/01/2012

Nebraskans like Senator Kerry. Enough to elect him Governer once and to the Senate twice. He'd still be there if he hadn't given up his Seat to run for President against Clinton.
No one put a gun to his head. The Party called and he answered. And any American who loves their Country and respects the sacrifices of our Veterans SHOULD be inspired to vote for him.
You should be so lucky.

[SpikeGCHjr]

07:26 AM on 03/02/2012

I agree he is a great American and hero, and if his politics more aligned with mine, I would stand on a rooftop and promote him..I am truly sorry he is a Liberal. I am just commenting on his sudden decision..if he truly was inspired to lead his state, dont you think he would have announced much sooner than just months before the election?

[jep121212]

09:21 AM on 03/01/2012

In 2020 historians will be writing about the Republican party that went extinct!

[rsticks18]

10:07 AM on 03/01/2012

with the 25 trillion dollar debt that the obama budget predicts nobody will have any money to be reading anything

[moebalot]

11:17 AM on 03/01/2012

In 2020 all Americans will be living in tents and waiting in Soup kitchen lines for food, while the Historians will bemoan the election of 2012 where Americans once again elected Obama, who completed the destruction of our economy and destroyed once proud nation with his divisive rhetoric. In 2018 both political parties succumbed to a dictatorship of OWS type scapegoating philosophy which proved to be the death kneel of our economy and country.

[CogentThought]

10:18 PM on 03/01/2012

LOL. Conservative science fiction is more funny than frightening.

[rbrain]

12:55 PM on 03/03/2012

Historians like Newt? And BTW, divisive rhetoric comes from Fox and the likes of Cantor, Limbaugh and McConnell.

[consindenial]

09:18 AM on 03/01/2012

Former governor and senator Bob Kerrey. Former Navy SeAL...awarded the Navy Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty in Vietnam. Successful restauanter and businessman. Administrator at a fine institution of higher education. A real, live, walking, talking hero and success. Self-made man. Just the kind of man that you would think would appeal to all of the good, patriotic, business-loving conservatives out there...

So the Teapublicans immediately attack him and deride him.

What a bunch of self-serving, hypocritical liars. Their patriotism is false, the premise of their platform is false, their "concern" for "individual liberty" is patently false. Their only concern is to regain power so they can implement the same failed policies that enriched their cronies and drove America into depressions in 1983, 1988, 2003 and finally the collapse of the Great Recession of 2008...that we are still recovering from.

[NoQuarter472]

12:12 PM on 03/01/2012

Don't twist the facts, his honorable service plays no part in his politics which place him as a toe tapping liberal. As for your revision of the facts, we are a degree away from 20 Trillion in debt and that is attributed to your asinine Empty Suit.

[CogentThought]

10:27 PM on 03/01/2012

Both resturants he founded are still running. The Healt Clubs/Fitness Centeres he owns have recently expanded to 4 locations. Senator Kerry founded businesses that STILL employ thousands of Nebraskans. And he started all of those businesses staring with a Pharmacists wages.
Senator Kerry is still regarded fondly by the majority of Nebraskans,who are indeed conservative but not stupid. For example, Senator Chuck Hagel, a Republican who was a Conservative on most issues, but was never willing to toe the Party line if he thought it was wrong. Senator Hagle was also a boots-on-the ground Combat Veteran of Vietnam. I respect both men, and as a registered Democrat I also voted for both of them. Nebraskans are cool like that.

[Savage Saint Roger]

09:17 AM on 03/01/2012

Ah, there is good news once in a while, huh.

[DRouss3977]

09:14 AM on 03/01/2012

Kerrey has integrity and intelligence. Watch the GOP/TP use character assassination on this American hero. The GOP/TP has used this tactic in the past quite successfully, unfortunately.

[CogentThought]

10:33 PM on 03/01/2012

I don't think they will try. It's pretty hard to tarnish a Congressional Medal of Honor. Right now, they are TRYING to paint him as a "New York Liberal". Pretty lame stuff. The man still owns successful businesses in Nebraska, still owns a home here and has family here. He was born and raised here. He simply is NOT the carpetbagger they paint him to be.
Also, Senator Chuck Hagle is a Member in good standing of the Republican Party and would be displeased if the Party tried to slander a fellow Viet Nam Vet. Both of them are honorable men, and I have been lucky enough to vote for both of them.

[rsticks18]

09:09 AM on 03/01/2012

guess the whole running for may of new york city thing did not work out.

[rsticks18]

09:08 AM on 03/01/2012

a medal of honor recipient ; a true war hero; a dream democrat. hey when did he move out of nyc and back to nebraska?

[CogentThought]

10:38 PM on 03/01/2012

Is there some law against moving to another State? When did the Roberts Court outlaw that?
FYI, The Senator still owns several operating businesses and has a home in Nebraska. He moved to NYC to serve as the President of The New School after his bid for the Presidency failed.
He moved back to run for Ben Nelsons open Senate Seat, at the behest of the Democratic Party.
He is bieng loyal to his Party, as any good American -Dem or Rep - ought to.