GOP State Has Tough Job Ousting Democrat

[Judi Lynn]

GOP State Has Tough Job Ousting Democrat

By SCOTT BAUER
The Associated Press
Wednesday, May 10, 2006; 9:13 PM

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Republicans in this extremely Republican state have settled on a candidate for what surprisingly shapes up as a tough task _ ousting first-term Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson.

In Nebraska, where the GOP holds all three House seats, one Senate seat and the governorship, Nelson is an anomaly, a popular, conservative Democrat who earns words of praise from President Bush and entreaties from Republicans to convert.

Nelson has crossed party lines on several issues, from backing Bush's judicial nominees to supporting the Republicans' Medicare prescription drug plan.

Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, Nelson's Nebraska colleague, described the senator as "kind of a Democrat," "kind of a Republican" and "kind of an independent."
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR2006051001437.html