Governor Heineman (R-NE) a no-go for Senate; Johanns 'surprised'

[Tx4obama]

Heineman a no-go for Senate; Johanns 'surprised'

Gov. Dave Heineman will not be a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2014.

"I have a passion for being governor," he told reporters at a news conference Saturday. That same passion doesn't exist for becoming a U.S. senator, he said.

If he had chosen to run, Heineman was considered an overwhelming favorite to win the Senate seat held by Mike Johanns, who has announced he will not seek re-election after completing one term.

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http://journalstar.com/news/local/cd2c3ec5-a55d-57d3-9870-e3de8586bdfc.html

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On February 18, 2013, Johanns announced that he will not run for reelection to a second term in 2014.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Johanns

One-term incumbent Republican Mike Johanns was elected with 58% of the vote in 2008. He will not seek a second term. Popular Republican Governor Dave Heineman (who will be term-limited as governor) considered running, but decided not to [66]. Potential Republican candidates to succeed Johanns include Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, former state Treasurer Shane Osborn, state Attorney General Jon Bruning, Congressman Lee Terry, Congressman Adrian Smith, wealthy investor Pete Ricketts, and Midland University President Ben Sasse [67].

On the Democatic side, former U.S. Senator and former Governor Bob Kerrey has decided not to run.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2014#Nebraska

[TwilightGardener]

1. I feel a Ricketts/Bruning GOP primary coming on.

[Hippo_Tron]

2. Maybe Stenberg can give it another go

20th time's the charm, right?

[illegaloperation]

3. Can a Democrat pull off another upset?

Surely, there must be another Heidi Heitkamp somewhere.

[Major Hogwash]

4. I don't know why Kerrey wouldn't run for the job. I think he would win, hands down.

Stephanie Herseth, the former Democratic Representative, said she didn't want that job either.
But, with Heineman out of the way, there has got to be a Democrat who can step up to run for that open seat.
Without an incumbent running in the race, it is much easier for the party that lost that seat to win it back.