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Reversing course, former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) announced today that he will, in fact, run for the open Senate seat in Nebraska.
Sen. Ben Nelson (D) announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection.
Nati Harnik / AP
Though Kerrey mentions his 'commitment' to Nebraska, Republicans will surely note that Kerrey, for the past decade, has lived in New York City, where he was president of The New School.
Here's Kerrey's statement:
"Doing things the conventional way has never been my strong suit. This afternoon, I will file to become a candidate for the United States Senate in Nebraska. 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%. I look forward to seeing you in the coming weeks. We have a lot of work to do."
Though Kerrey mentions his "commitment" to Nebraska, Republicans will surely note that Kerrey, for the past decade, has lived in New York City, where he was president of The New School.
It's welcome news for Democrats, a day after they got a big target in Maine because of Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) announced she was not seeking reelection.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee, at the ready with oppo research on Kerrey's record, dismissed Kerrey as a "liberal" who has lived in "Greenwich Village for so many years" and being "simply out-of-step with Nebraska."
"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," NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said. “As Nebraskans reacquaint themselves with Kerrey they will quickly recognize that living in Greenwich Village for so many years tends to change a person. 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.”
Three weeks ago, Kerrey had announced he would not run. He said then:
"I have given the decision of becoming a candidate for the U.S. Senate very serious thought and prayer," Kerrey said in an email, per AP. "For many reasons I nearly said yes. In the end I choose to remain a private citizen. 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."
If President Obama wins reelection, Republicans need to win a net of four seats to take control of the Senate. If a Republican wins the presidency, the GOP needs to pick up three.
Republicans are favored to win in North Dakota and would have been heavily favored in Nebraska to takeover seats currently held by Democrats. But the entry of Kerrey makes the race competitive and -- at least -- will be someplace Democrats hope Republicans will now have to spend some money and reduce their firepower elsewhere.
There are several toss-up states, for example, where control will likely rest, particularly -- Montana (D-Tester), Missouri (D-McCaskill), Virginia (D-Open), Nevada (R-Open), Massachusetts (R-Brown).
The favorite to win the GOP primary in Nebraska is Attorney General Jon Bruning, but he faces a primary, notably from state Treasurer Don Stenberg.
Kerrey served in the U.S. Senate from 1989 to 2000 and ran for president in 1992. It's not the first time Kerrey's name has come up for a Nebraska Senate seat and he declined.
But he has lived in New York City for the past decade, serving as president of The New School, far from his Nebraska roots. (He's currently President Emeritus at The New School.)
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A long shot, desperate strategy by Senator Reid highly unlikely to succeed. Sen. Ben Nelson faced a very difficult re-election campaign and opted out. He was the best shot the Democrats had at that seat. No other strong Democrat candidate in Nebraska was willing to face the overwhelming political tsunami awaiting the Democrat foolish enough to run for this seat at this point in history. There's little love for former Governor and Senator Kerrey in Nebraska. He ditched the place like a bad penny and now wants to run for a Senate seat, there? Then he waffles on whether or not to run - because he's no fool. He knows he's a huge long shot. So what did Sen Reid offer?
The Ditto Heads are already attaching Bob Kerry just as the "Swift Boats" neocons attacked Kerry with utter lies and distortions..People might recall the main financial backer of the Swift Boats movement admitted they fabricated distortions of Kerry's war records....
Maine will probably get Charlie Summers to run for Olympia Snowes seat. He's a republican that worked with Snowe.
Thank god!!
More good news! Bob Kerry will stay in the senate! It just keeps getting better!
As a Proud Veteran from the Midwest who is also a card carrying Independent, I cannot think of a better qualified individual to run for this office. Bob Kerrey was a good Governor, a good Senator and voted his conscience based on what he believed his constituents wanted for Nebraska. Bob#####, James whatever, and other windbags can't get over the idea that the electorate is awakening to the scams of the corporate shills who have pushed our country to the brink of financial disaster based on Trckle down economics. Maybe the corporate owned slugs like Lush Rimjob, Glenn Beck(erhead) and Sean (sh#8) Hammity are finally being exposed for the slime they truly are!!
This is news to me! I heard that screwy Louie Farrahkan was going to run! This is one moron who needs to be deported to Yemen. This is the biggest biggot racist of all time and I am certain he will do well in Yemen. Take Rev Wright with you Louie.
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Time for Feisty to get her rabies shot. Still foaming at the mouth, as usual.
Liz Warren will defeat Senator Scott Brown in Ma..
awesome news! Bob Kerrey was a GREAT senator and would have made a great president when he ran back in 92
ben nelson was absolutely worthless.
When Kerry wins it won't change the Numerical Staus of the Senate , the one thing the country will get is a viable HONEST Democrat to replace another so called democrat that spent his time Smoozing his GOP [whatever] friends and forgetting the reason he got elected as a Democrat.
And I'm sure they will vote for him.
Any change to this do-nothing, single-digit congress is not likely to make things worse. The T party wasn't the answer. Bob Kerrey has a history of doing what's best for Nebraska in the past. I hope Nebraska realizes a good thing when they see it. A moderate vote cast on principles would be a welcome change instead of a T party group no vote that in effect protected large corporations and the wealthy. ZEEK
I don't know if the Republican Party can have it both ways and complain about Sen. Kerry's possible changing of position and at the same time be ok with Gov. Romney's changing positions and being ok with that. Why can't we have somebody who is just consistent? As a Democrat, I never had the image that Sen. Kerry was ever a liberal Democrat, he always struck me as more of a conservative-moderate Democrat. The push by the Republicans going so far to the right may have colored their impression of most everybody else. It's perhaps the Republican Party that has changed so much while most everybody else that has stayed pretty much the same.
Any conservative democrat has a very liberal bit and reins in his Jack ass mouth.
Ben Nelson was a Republican in disguise. Vote for Kerry.
Bob Kerry's entrance into the Senate race is welcome by those of us who do not want another obstructionist right winger in the Senate. He will face an uphill battle, but there are plenty of us who are ready to go to bat for him.
We have NOT forgotten what happened to Nebraska when he was governor. Here are just a few: he withdrew all his money out of banks the day before they were ordered closed. Many citizens including seniors lost all of their money. Or end the end, only paid cents on the dollar. Luckily he had insider info was got his money out before their closures. Secondly: Signed Nebraska up to be the Nuclear Dumping site for the 5 state area. Not giving a XXX for the citizens and their health. Third-Using the governors mansion as a party palace with his then girlfriend Debra Winger. Fourth: Kept the taxes nice and high in Nebraska
You were the worst governor the state of Nebraska ever had!!
No telling how he will do coming "home". Seems everybody gets him confused with somebody else. You can bet his home town no longer knows him as well as they did before. A great challenge to return as a "new" person ?