(If Hagel decides to skip a re-election bid (for whatever reason), this could be a marquee race. Nebraska has a long history of electing Democrats to the U.S. Senate. – promoted by James L.)
From today’s Omaha World Herald:
Mayor Mike Fahey knew what was coming when he agreed recently to meet with two of the nation’s top Democrats – a pitch for him to run for the U.S. Senate.
In the past, Fahey quickly blunted any speculation that he was interested in running for higher office. That has changed, with Fahey now saying he will consider a Senate race if Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel doesn’t seek re-election in 2008.
Late last month, Fahey was in Washington, D.C., for a mayors conference when he was asked to meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
“They talked to me about the Senate race, and they were very complimentary,” Fahey said. “They said all the right things.”
The DSCC is apparently recruiting Fahey to run for the seat, that’s a very good sign. It’s worth noting that this is only a possibility if Hagel does not run for reelection, but if Fahey does run for Senate, this becomes a tremendous pick-up opportunity.
It seems we don’t have many options for D’s strong enough to run in ’08. Fahey is probably our strongest bet and at least he’s not as conservative as Nelson! What would keep Fahey out? Hasn’t he said he wants to run for re-election? And if Fahey went for Senate, do you think there is any possibility for Anne Boyle to run for Mayor? I like her a lot.
He did remarkably well — 46% — in the most conservative Congressional district in Nebraska, where John Kerry had polled 25% just two years earlier. And we have to consider that Scott Kleeb was a political rookie who had been propped up by the netroots.
If he ran statewide for the Senate in an open seat (which includes less conservative parts of Nebraska), he could probably win. Not to mention that he’s devastatingly handsome!