NRSC Poll Shows Johanns With Commanding Primary Lead

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns holds a substantial lead over his two GOP primary opponents for the seat of retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), according to an internal poll conducted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

The poll, first reported by the Lincoln Journal-Star, shows Johanns receiving 58 percent the vote, with state Attorney General Jon Bruning with 16 percent and former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub with 12 percent of the vote. It was conducted last week before Johanns resigned from his Cabinet post.

Bruning’s internal polling shows a different picture. A poll conducted for his campaign earlier this month showed him within nine points of Johanns. In Bruning’s poll, 39 of registered Republicans said they favored Johanns, 30 percent preferred Bruning and 15 percent supported Daub in a three-way race.

The Republican primary is merely an entrée to what is expected to be a highly competitive Senate race, if former Democratic senator Bob Kerrey opts to run.

State party operatives said Kerrey may be leaning against jumping in because he doesn’t want to uproot his family from New York. They stress, though, that he still hasn’t made up his mind.

“It’s strictly a family matter, at this point,” said Nebraska Democratic party spokesman Eric Fought. “There’s a sense he doesn’t want to disturb his family life.”