Scott Kleeb said Wednesday he welcomes Mike Johanns’ effort to draw attention to stark contrasts in this year’s Senate race.

“There are very clear differences,” the Democratic nominee said.

“He thinks things in Washington are just fine and I don’t. He has been part of this administration and I think we need fundamental change.”

Johanns served nearly three years as the Bush administration’s secretary of agriculture before resigning last September to return to Nebraska and enter the Senate race.

On Tuesday, Johanns dispatched Schuyler businessman Pat Flynn to claim the Republican nomination.

Kleeb overwhelmed Columbus industrialist Tony Raimondo, turning what had appeared to be a competitive Democratic scrap into a runaway win.

Raimondo won only his home base in Platte County and neighboring Colfax County as Kleeb swept through his own 3rd District congressional base and added big wins in Lincoln and Omaha.

In 2006, Kleeb was the Democratic congressional nominee in western and central Nebraska.

“Our support was wide,” Kleeb said as he sat in Lincoln’s Haymarket, studying a Journal Star election map charting the extent of his victory.  

Kleeb stopped at The Mill before heading home to Hastings to watch his 7-year-old daughter, Kora, play soccer and to grade the final papers in a history course he taught at Hastings College this semester.

As Kleeb embraced his opponent’s theme of sharp differences, Johanns flew with Gov. Dave Heineman to six campaign stops across the state.

Before embarking from Lincoln, Johanns said voters this fall will see “a very, very stark contrast” between Kleeb and himself in terms of experience.

“Nebraskans are anxious for someone who has the ability, background and experience to go back and go to work to fix Washington,” the former governor and former Lincoln mayor told a telephone news conference.

With the nation facing urgent national security, economic and energy challenges, Johanns said, this is “a time for people to work together and bring the best experience to solve those problems.”

Kleeb countered the kind of experience Johanns extols “has brought us to this point” of growing problems and unresolved issues.

The stark choice, he said, is status quo or change.

On election night, Johanns pointed to differences with Kleeb over a number of issues, including tax reductions, health care and Iraq.

“I was raised on a military base and my friends are fighting this war,” Kleeb said.

Johanns, he said, is part of the administration that has waged the war and failed to support its veterans with adequate services, including health care.

“When we talk about supporting the troops, are we saying that means not bringing them home?   Does he support the war for another 100 years?”

Kleeb said he strongly supports a proposed new GI bill providing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with benefits similar to those granted to the veterans of World War II.

“And where does he stand?” Kleeb asked, referring to Johanns.

Kleeb said he supports tax cuts for those who need them, including middle-class families, but not for “businesses that ship jobs overseas.”

While he supports health care reform, Kleeb said, it’s not the government program ascribed to him by Johanns.  

Rather, Kleeb said, he supports reforms that include both the private and the public sectors with retention of private health insurance and patient choice.

Johanns, he said, “seems to think our health system is just fine,” even though one of every eight Nebraskans is not insured.

Earlier Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson said he’ll “do whatever I can to help” Kleeb win in November.

“He’ll be a worthy partner here in the Senate,” said Nelson, who was more tied to Raimondo, a longtime friend.

“Mike Johanns left the (agriculture) job before it was done back here,” Nelson said. “That’s a factor Nebraskans will consider.”

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