In Nebraska Senate race, Democrat Kerrey picks up GOP endorsement

EW YORK - JULY 28: Bob Kerrey attends a special preview of 'Rubicon' a new drama series from AMC hosted by AMC and Vanity Fair at The High Line Room - The Standard Hotel on July 28, 2010 in New York City. / Photo by Henry S. Dziekan III/Getty Images

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., is set to endorse Democrat Bob Kerrey, a former two-term senator who's running to serve once again in the Senate, according to the Omaha World-Herald.

The endorsement comes at a critical time for Kerrey, who, according to a new poll by the World-Herald, shows him closing a 10-point gap against Republican challenger Deb Fischer down to three points.

The race is to replace retiring Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., who has served two terms in the Senate and was often the source of consternation among fellow Democrats for his moderate-to-conservative stances. Nelson did, however, vote for President Obama's health care law - not the most popular political move in red state Nebraska.

The endorsement of Kerrey from Hagel, who was considered a moderate Republican by the time he retired from the Senate in 2009, could pave the way for other moderate Republicans, independents or undecided voters in Nebraska to take a second look at Kerrey.

Hagel and Kerrey have a long-standing working relationship as their terms overlapped between 1997 and 2001. Hagel is now a professor at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., sits on the board of several corporations and serves on Mr. Obama's Intelligence Advisory Board.

For her part, Kerrey's Republican challenger Fischer is holding an event with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Friday, who endorsed her earlier this week. Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns and Gov. Dave Heineman, both Republicans, are also expected to attend that event.

[wildbilltoo]

C'mon Nebraskans, are you going to look to two bona fide war heroes with tons of experience and gravitas or listen to this Deb whose idea of big issues shows in her concurrence with the likes of Akin and Mourdock that women should be forced to bear a rapist's child; and in her belief that there's nothing to this global warming and climate change stuff. Akin and Mourock are not going to the Senate -- let's keep Fischer home too!

[lami987]

Kerrey was a very good senator, he helped Clinton tremendously and achieved a balanced budget, budget surplus with 4% unemployment. Those were the first in many many years. Then came Bush II, all those achievements disappeared almost instantly.

[jahmartin-2009]

Always had a great deal of respect for former Senator Bob Kerry. Hope Nebraskans send him back to Washington!

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

That is how you work across party lines.

[cntrygirl3]

I knew there was at least 1 sane republican left!!!!

[porchhound]

Birds of a feather!

[GraniteGuy2012]

How come CBS or any media outlet never talks about Democrats supporting GOP candidates? (Don't say it doesn't happen...) This is part of the CBS/MSNBC/ABC/CNN/NYT view that all Democrats GOOD all Republicans BAD.

I for one will ALWAYS vote for the more Conservative candidate, regardless of Party....

[wolfmagic2012]

The Republican Party has gone overboard with the Tea Party, and now would call Reagan a liberal. That is why so many centrist moderate Republicans are bailing out of the current R party and voting Democrat. If the R's don't regain their sanity and acknowledge the Tea Party as extremists, and return somewhat to the center, there will be a lot more Democrats elected, as they are currently the only party willing to work across party lines.

[qyeteye]

TYPEZ - Most prefer to spin the truth and facts.
- - -
Yes, that is because it is profitable and easy. Many prefer to believe in myths and ignore facts and realities when contradicting them.

Like years of warming and climate change seen as left wing conspiracy and little more then longevity patterns. The latter is true to an extent but ignores heavy metal concentrations in ice cores aligned with relative severity and rapidity of change.