President Bush's surprise selection Thursday of Gov. Mike Johanns as secretary of agriculture flipped Nebraska's political landscape upside down.

When the dust settled, the state faced its first gubernatorial resignation in more than a century, elevation of Lt. Gov. Dave Heineman to the governorship and a totally restructured 2006 Senate race.

For Johanns, the cabinet appointment represented what he described as his "dream job." Transcript of nomination announcement| Related stories below and in Nebraska News

Johanns, 54, who is midway through his second four-year term, will remain governor until his nomination is approved by the Senate, probably in January.

During a brief ceremony Thursday in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, Bush described the governor as "a son of Iowa dairy farmers (and) faithful friend to America's farmers and ranchers."

Johanns has been a leader in seeking drought relief, supporting development of ethanol and biodiesel as alternative energy sources and in promoting U.S. food exports, the president said.

"If confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to advancing your rural agenda," the governor told the president.

When Johanns mentioned his wife, Stephanie, who sat beaming with a camera on her lap, Bush turned and winked at her.

"For someone who grew up on a dairy farm, this is about as big as it gets," the governor declared during a hastily-arranged telephone news conference an hour after the White House event.

Johanns declined to discuss ag policy issues during the joint conference call with Heineman.

Heineman, 56, who will become Nebraska's 39th governor, said the appointment represents "an early Christmas present" for Nebraska farmers and ranchers.

Although selection of a Midwesterner with an agricultural background appeared logical, the choice of Johanns was startling in view of his anticipated 2006 Senate candidacy and reports from mid-November that White House political guru Karl Rove had dangled the job in front of Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson.

With encouragement from Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, the governor had appeared to be on course toward a classic Senate showdown  with Nelson two years from now.

Among a dozen names emerging as prospective GOP Senate candidates in the wake of Johanns' departure are Reps. Tom Osborne and Lee Terry, Congressman-elect Jeff Fortenberry, Attorney General Jon Bruning and Republican State Chairman David Kramer.

Osborne is viewed as a more likely gubernatorial candidate in 2006, having previously signaled his interest in pursuing the post. But Heineman's elevation also changes that dynamic, raising the prospect of an incumbent Republican governor seeking election two years from now instead of an opening in the governorship.

"The political landscape looks nothing like it did yesterday," Kramer said.

The behind-the-scenes movement toward Johanns' selection began over breakfast at a Village Inn in Omaha days after Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman's Nov. 15 announcement she would be stepping down.

Kramer and Chris Peterson, GOP state executive director, discussed whether any Nebraskans might want the job. They agreed that Peterson, former aide and spokesman for Johanns, ought to call the governor to determine if he had any interest.

Johanns told Peterson he'd consider the ag post a dream job and gave his permission to convey that message to the White House, Kramer said.

Peterson called Matt Schlapp, White House political affairs director, and Kramer phoned Ken Mehlman, who headed Bush's re-election campaign and soon will take over as Republican national chairman.

The seed was planted and the White House took it from there.

Johanns subsequently met with Mehlman at a Republican Governors Association conference in New Orleans last month. On Wednesday, Johanns sat down with the president, who offered him the position.

Nelson said the appointment was "great news for Nebraska" and pledged his support for the president's nomination.

It's also "great news for American agriculture," Hagel said. 

"Mike's passion for agriculture is personal. It is part of who he is and where he comes from."

Johanns will bring  "a clear understanding of agriculture and farm policies" to Washington, Veneman said.

Once he's confirmed, Johanns will be the fourth Nebraskan to serve as secretary of agriculture.  Preceding him: Clayton Yeutter, Clifford Hardin and J. Sterling Morton.

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