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Bruning prepares to seek Hagel's seat

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By DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Mar 15, 2007 - 03:59:02 pm CDT

Game on.

Preparing for the possibility Sen. Chuck Hagel may not seek re-election, Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning announced Thursday he’ll begin to organize and finance a 2008 Senate campaign.

Bruning said he’ll build a statewide grassroots organization and “raise as much money as I can” but be prepared to step aside if Hagel decides to bid for a third term.

Story Photo
Attorney General Jon Bruning announces he is forming an exploratory committee for a potential U.S. Senate run if current Sen. Chuck Hagel does not run for re-election. (William Lauer)

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3.14.07: Bruning may prepare for Senate seat

“I will not run against him” in a Republican primary election, Bruning told a crowded news conference in the Capitol Rotunda.

“(Hagel has) worked hard to build the Nebraska Republican Party into the strong institution it is today and has earned the right to take whatever time he needs to determine his political future,” Bruning said.

However, if Hagel decides not to seek re-election, he said, “Republicans must have a candidate who’s ready to step up to the plate.”

Bruning’s bold decision to move ahead came a few days after Hagel called his own timeout by delaying a decision on his political future until later this year.

The attorney general’s announcement prompted former Rep. Hal Daub to quickly stake out his own Senate ground.

Daub, Nebraska’s Republican national committeeman and former Omaha mayor, issued a statement that he’s “strongly considering” a Senate bid if Hagel chooses a different course.

Although he intends to “remain patient and respectful,” Daub said, “the apparent eagerness of other Nebraskans to mount a campaign” prompts him to consider his own timing.

Hagel, who is mulling pursuit of the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, said Bruning phoned Wednesday to inform him of his plans.

“He made it very clear to me he would support me” in a bid for re-election, Hagel said during his weekly telephone news conference from Washington.

“He said (his action) was not in any way a threat or pushing me.”

In his prepared remarks, Bruning said: “I am simply testing the waters to determine whether Nebraskans are interested in my candidacy should Senator Hagel choose not to run.”

In responding to a question at the news conference, Bruning acknowledged he might have reservations about stepping aside at the last moment if Hagel waits until his filing deadline next Feb. 15.

One course available to Hagel is to pursue the GOP presidential nomination and still have the option of meeting the Senate filing deadline if he does not fare well in a front-loaded series of presidential caucuses and primaries that peak on Feb. 5.

Would Bruning still stay out if Hagel waited that long?

“I don’t know if I can answer that,” the attorney general said.  But, he said, he’s sure Hagel will make his decision about a Senate race well before that.

Hagel has placed no deadline on determining his political plans, but sometime after Labor Day appears to be a reasonable guess.

Bruning’s formation of an exploratory committee provides a mechanism for raising campaign funds for a Senate race.

Money previously raised for a future re-election campaign for attorney general could not be used in a federal race. But Senate funds could later be transferred into a state race.

“This Senate seat and this election are too important to leave to chance,” Bruning said.

“It takes time to travel to 93 counties and have conversations with people about what’s important. And it takes time to build the grassroots support needed to win.

“This is all about the ground game.”

Bruning said he has spoken recently with Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, who resigned the governorship to serve in President Bush’s cabinet, to determine whether he has any interest in a Nebraska Senate race.

Citing federal restrictions on his political activity, Johanns “wouldn’t say anything,” the attorney general said.

Bruning said he twice has turned down Arizona Sen. John McCain’s request that he head McCain’s Republican presidential campaign in Nebraska.

“I’m a Hagel guy,” the attorney general said.

Bruning leaves today for a trip to Egypt, Israel and Jordan sponsored by the Aspen Institute, an international nonprofit leadership organization.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.


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Gary wrote on March 15, 2007 11:08 am:
" I will vote for you Mr Bruning. I think you are doing a great job as our Attorney General. You are what we need in the Senate. "
What a Surprise! wrote on March 15, 2007 12:08 pm:
" I wish that AG Bruning hadn't bragged about bringing in people smarter than himself to work for him the way that he did a few months ago - seemed immature. I don't plan on sending him to Washington. "
Kramerica wrote on March 15, 2007 12:25 pm:
" I want David Kramer!! "
FS wrote on March 15, 2007 12:29 pm:
" I won't vote for you Mr Bruning. I think you are doing a terrible job as our Attorney General. You are not what we need in the Senate. "
airedale wrote on March 15, 2007 12:30 pm:
" If there were any reason to hope that Hagel runs for Senate again this is it. "
Mike L wrote on March 15, 2007 1:34 pm:
" Only difference between Jon Bruining and Kate Witek is that one wears a suit and one wears a dress. No thank you. I want Hagel out and Johanns in. "
Joseph P. Sokolovsky wrote on March 15, 2007 2:39 pm:
" It never ceases to amazing me how negative and mean spirited some (apparently) very lonely people can be...especially when they can hide behind their computer. That takes REAL courage! I'd vote for Attorney General Bruning in a heart beat (if he runs). "
Tom wrote on March 15, 2007 3:04 pm:
" Jon will be another part time employee like all of those exploring opportunity elsewhere. Too bad. "
AB wrote on March 15, 2007 4:30 pm:
" Politics: The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. Politics: The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. Bruning epitomizes this "
mr. mr. wrote on March 15, 2007 4:34 pm:
" i would vote for j.b. if i lived in nebraska. he appears to be doing a good job in a tough position. "
average voter wrote on March 15, 2007 4:38 pm:
" Jon Bruning is nothing more than raw ambition. What does he even stand for? He should define that before he tries to be a United States Senator, right now he just seems like a fraternity boy. Maybe he should have listened to the substance of Senator Hagel's statement on Monday where he talked about actually meeting the challenges of a nation instead of playing a political game. Hagel has offered serious solutions to entitlement reform, immigration reform, climate change, the conflict in the Middle East - meanwhile, Bruning has been wasting tax-payer dollars on "public service announcements" to boost his name recognition. "
Nebraska values wrote on March 15, 2007 4:38 pm:
" Now I've heard everything...an "exploratory committee" for a U.S. Senate race?! Jon has my respect, but this has a stench of opportunism like a Husker feed lot! I wish our elected officials were held accountable to their current office and weren't always looking for next higher seat to become available. He won the race of announcing first, but if Hagel's out, the field will get crowded and Jon may very well not be the best qualified...certainly not the most seasoned. Do the work Nebraskan's elected you to do, Jon, and stay true to your word of giving Senator Hagel his time. "
Taylor wrote on March 15, 2007 4:53 pm:
" Bruning said something of this of effect "Hagel deserves our time." Boy Jon TWO Days! That's patience,oh no that's arrogence. I'll vote for a true leader, David Kramer. "
Brian wrote on March 15, 2007 5:04 pm:
" I'm not a Republican, but I'd vote for Jon Bruning. After the way he stepped up and addressed that University Regents situation, I have faith in this guy. I'd still do some more research before supporting him with my vote. "
ATWhoa! wrote on March 15, 2007 7:25 pm:
" Bruning should move back to the ATO house and hunt sexual predators. Remember the fiasco he caused with the young couple from southeast Nebraska? He is NOT the kind of representative we should send to Washington. "
Roger wrote on March 15, 2007 11:34 pm:
" I will vote for Bruning. He deserves a chance and respect. You people blasting him are just upset because you don't have the courage to run yourself. "
Incumbent Protection wrote on March 15, 2007 11:56 pm:
" Bruning has my vote and a check or two, but he doesn't have a hope in hell of any official GOP support. The local, state, and national GOP will still support that incumbent, regardless of how bad the electorate would like to boot them. No party money, no endorsements, no chance, but good luck anyway. In any case, Hagel needs a shove or three to prompt him to either run for re-election, run for the presidential nomination, or "go back to the plow". Move or get out of the way! "
Nate wrote on March 16, 2007 12:10 am:
" Joe: Nice that you can attack everybody who's critical of Bruning while at the same time offering no supporting evidence at all for *why* we should support him! Really adds positively to the public discourse! "
voter wrote on March 16, 2007 10:02 am:
" He has used the office of AG merely to further his political career. Let's not send someone with such warped values to Washington. The last thing we need is another religious fundamentalist in the halls of Congress. "
Career Politician wrote on March 16, 2007 11:18 am:
" Bruning is a career politician and I don't like career politicians. He cares more about the Republican Party than he does about the State of Nebraska or the United States of America. "
Copper wrote on March 16, 2007 2:18 pm:
" Jon is doing an excellent job as our AG and his go-getter attitude is exactly what we need in Washington. Sadly, we will lose a great AG but we will gain in having aggressive representation in Washington. Jon will get my vote. "
airedale wrote on March 16, 2007 4:04 pm:
" This might gear up to be an intersting campaign. Maybe Bruning, Stenberg, Ricketts Johanns and Daub will all run. If that many do then its anybodies game - at least for the Republican nomination. If the Republicans tear one another up during the primaries it might give whatever Democrats (or other 3rd party) challengers a chance to gain some ground and be a threat come election day. In my case I could never envision myself voting for Bruning. On the other hand I don't care to much for the other Republican potentials either. Maybe it is time to take a serious look at candidates for the Democratic, Libertarian or other parties. In any case - I wish Nebraska would adopt a law that would require office holders to resign their office when they decide to run for a different one. "
Mary James wrote on March 18, 2007 2:31 pm:
" The Attorney General obviously thinks he can better serve Nebraska at the Federal level and I appreciate his courage and strength in considering this option. If he decides to run for Senate, he has my vote. "
Alice Harris wrote on March 18, 2007 2:37 pm:
" I really wish people would let go of their personal biases and put the interests of Nebraska first. All this about how arrogant and self-seeking the Attorney General is for looking to run for Senate is obviously the result of personal bias. He has done a great job protecting our most valuable assets in Nebraska: our children. For that he deserves our respect. He has my vote. "

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