Chuck Hagel (R-NE) to endorse Bob Kerrey (for US Senate UPDATED!)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

Republican Chuck Hagel is going to endorse Democrat Bob Kerrey.

That's the word from the Kerrey camp this evening, as they prepare to make a "major" announcement tomorrow.

A spokesman with Kerrey's campaign says Hagel – a former Nebraska U.S. Senator and a Republican – will back Kerrey in his race against Republican Deb Fischer.

Hagel's endorsement comes as polls have shown the race between Kerrey and Fischer tightening down the home stretch.

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20121031/NEWS/121039908/1718

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Other Republicans for Kerrey here: http://www.omaha.com/article/20121030/NEWS/710309890

Democrat Bob Kerrey's Tuesday morning press conference was supposed to be about bipartisan cooperation, but the talk kept returning to his ads criticizing his opponent, Republican Deb Fischer, over allegations that she fought a proposal to turn a scenic patch of land into a state park.

Rex Amack was among the Republicans who showed up to endorse Kerrey for Nebraska's open Senate seat. Amack spent 44 years with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, including 24 as director before retiring this year.

Amack was asked about Kerrey saying Fischer tried to shoot down a proposal to make a state park out of Snake Falls Ranch, which is next to the ranch owned by Fischer and her husband, Bruce, near Valentine.

Fischer has said she never took a position on whether the ranch should be a state park.

FULL story at link.

[gateley]

1. I like Hagel!

[rso]

3. Hagel

Yes, Hagel has been a moderate and a pragmatic and relatively constructive republican. I only wish that the endorsement had come earlier.

[still_one]

2. That is huge

[David Zephyr]

4. Really big shaker upper.

K&R.

[progressoid]

5. Boy it is telling that someone like Hagel was thrown under the bus by the GOP.

Hope his endorsement helps sway some moderates toward Kerry.

[donnasgirl]

6. Chuck Hagel

is the Joe Biden of the republican party.A real human being and i love them both J.B. and C.H.

[hrmjustin]

7. that might pull him over.

hope so.

[Surya Gayatri]

8. Strangely enough, while growing up in Nebraska, I came to know both the Kerrey and Hagel families.

Bob and Chuck are both decent men and are perhaps more honest than your average pol.

Hagel's endorsement can only help to keep that horror Fischer out of the Senate.

Kerrey seems to be surging at just the optimum moment. What's the word on the ground, Omaha Steve? How's it looking in real time?

I still have family in NE, but their RW obtuseness makes dialogue too difficult. I've had to limit contact for the duration of the election.

[grantcart]

10. I am also interested in local reaction but I did see where a dispute with a neighbor was blowing up

on Fischer and that it was growing tight.

I wold not be surprised to learn that the Hagel endorsement was timed to come at the time when the campaign was about tied.


A Democratic win here would be an earthquake win.

[Surya Gayatri]

12. She and her Sandhills rancher family have been revealed as nasty, callous

federal land-grabbing hypocrites.

She preaches RW "values" of small government, self-sufficiency, yada, yada, and yet her family has grown filthy rich by exploiting federal land-management loopholes and by defrauding their elderly rancher neighbors.

[NEDem]

9. I voted for Hagel twice

The only Repub I ever voted for and looked forward to voting for. During his last term he actually called me personally on a couple of occasions to talk with me about my concerns with the "patriot" act. Total class act, one of the good ones!

[railsback]

11. Nobody gave Kerrey a chance.

Not that Kerrey is a traditional Democrat. Far from it. But he's NOT a Republican.

[gateley]

13. Kerrey isn't the only Democrat Hagel has endorsed!

[sofa king]

14. That's a major crack in the GOP facade.

[q_e_d]

15. Mr. Hagel seems a sensible man

Not to intrude, but, if I might state, some of your Republican candidates are, quite simply, weird!

[Omaha Steve]

16. UPDATED this morning at 7:13 am (central)

Published Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 6:09 pm / Updated at 7:13 am

The short LBN story has been replaced with this full story: http://www.omaha.com/article/20121031/NEWS/121039908/1685#chuck-hagel-to-endorse-bob-kerrey

[Coyotl]

17. This is a needed game changer

Consider how many have voted Hagel over the years!

The polling has been disfavorable for Kerry, albeit the race has been tightening. Fischer's negatives are significant, but that is not changing a lot of red minds. This might impact the red vote moreso, and certainly should swing independents.

[TwilightGardener]

18. I sure hope it has an impact--

there didn't seem to be any love left between Hagel and Repubs in Nebraska, but maybe some rational Republicans and independents/middle- of-the-roaders will take notice.

[Zambero]

19. This MIGHT just do it!

Don't forget to take your ulcer meds, Karl Rove & Koch Suckers!

[jwirr]

20. Chuck was a good republican. The kind that used to hold office.

[davidpdx]

21. Hot damn!

Hopefully this will put Kerrey over the top and back in the Senate. What a slap in the face to Fischer.

[Berlum]

22. One wonders whether Hagel (R) will also abandon ship on the S.S. Willard (R)?

[Inuca]

23. More from yesterday

http://nebraskaradionetwork.com/2012/11/01/former-sen-chuck-hagel-endorses-bob-kerrey-for-senate-audio/

During a news conference earlier in the day, Sen. Mike Johanns, a Republican who succeeded Hagel in the U-S Senate, suggested Hagel made the endorsement in hopes of landing in President Obama’s cabinet if the president is re-elected. [Click here for earlier story]

Hagel called the suggestion ridiculous.

“Well, I’m not sure Sen. Johanns can answer for me, although I did help him a few times get to where he is,” Hagel said to laughter from supporters gathered for the news conference.

Hagel rejected the Johanns’ comments as excessively partisan.

“Comments like what Mr. Johanns said is what is wrong with our party system today,” according to Hagel. “Who is Mike Johanns to judge me on I’m not a Republican? I’m just as much a Republican as he is. On whose standard is he judging me? That’s the problem with the Republican Party today.”

And that's why I like and respect Hagel.