Raimondo says he won't seek Republican Senate nomination

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By ANNA JO BRATTON / The Associated Press

OMAHA — Another possible Senate contender said Friday he’ll bypass the Nebraska race.

Columbus businessman Tony Raimondo said he realized when former Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns entered the race, he wouldn’t be able to raise the money needed to get the Republican nod.

“Especially when the governor endorsed him, I think the Republican primary closed up,” Raimondo said.

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Tony Raimondo

Tony Raimondo

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, said the 68-year-old Raimondo, who said he had wanted to bring global business development experience to the Senate. The threat that former Democratic governor and U.S. senator Bob Kerrey would enter the race provided strong motivation for Republicans to unite, Raimondo said.

“I would love personally to see more of an open primary,” he said, but “Mike certainly has a very positive record.”

Kerrey said Wednesday he would not seek the Democratic primary nod. No Democrats have entered the race.

Attorney General Jon Bruning and Schuyler businessman Pat Flynn round out the Republican field.

Johanns’ entry already scared one Republican contender away. Former Congressman Hal Daub ended his Senate bid just 11 days after launching it and a few days after the former Nebraska governor resigned his Cabinet post withclear intentions to enter the race. Daub also said Johanns’ entry would mean he couldn’t raise enough money to win.

Raimondo is the chairman of Behlen Manufacturing Co., which employs 1,100 workers in four plants in the United States and one in China. Behlen manufactures metal buildings, grain systems and livestock equipment.

Raimondo said this isn’t the end of his political aspirations, and his name may pop up in the future.

He said no one’s suggested to him that he run for the Senate seat as a Democrat, and while he has no plans to switch parties, he would listen if asked.