Smith (Rep) cites stance on abortion as key in race (Ne) with Kleeb (Dem)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2238243

Published Friday
September 8, 2006

Smith cites stance on abortion as key in race with Kleeb

BY PAUL HAMMEL


WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

State Sen. Adrian Smith received a major endorsement Thursday, picking up the support of both the Nebraska and National Right to Life organizations.

Smith, a Republican from Gering, said the groups' backing highlights a key difference between himself and Democratic rival Scott Kleeb of Dunning in their race to win the 3rd District congressional seat held by retiring Rep. Tom Osborne.

"Throughout my experience in the State Legislature, I have fought for the rights of the unborn, strongly opposed partial-birth abortion and sponsored legislation opposing human cloning," Smith said in a press release.

Kleeb is opposed to abortion on moral grounds but does not oppose abortion in cases of rape or incest, according to campaign spokesman Ben Lumpkin.

Kleeb does not support a constitutional amendment that would ban abortion, Lumpkin said, because he does not want to "criminalize" abortion for women who choose to have one.

(edited for copyright proud patriot)

[Cooley Hurd]

1. KLEEB!

BTW... where's Kleeb been?:shrug:

[MaineDem]

2. Scott wasn't going to get their endorsement in any case

No need to fill out the survey.

How are things looking in that race?

[NEDem]

3. Its western Nebraska,

How do you think it looks?


I hate to say it but wasting time and money in that part of the state is just plain stupid. Spend it in Lincoln and Omaha, where we have a chance, a slim chance, but at least a chance.

What is it now something like 85% republican out there? All of 200,000 people.

[MaineDem]

4. There's always a chance...

Scott's got some charisma and support. I know he's working hard. Time will tell but I understand what you're saying.

Thanks.

[TheFarseer]

5. No, I disagree

We've got to tell EVERYONE what we stand for, not just people that are pre-disposed to voting for us. I don't think we will win (although it's possible, there isn't any polling out there!), but we've got to field a candidate and support them so that people out there are not just listening to one side of the story. Republicans are crapping on the third district more than probably any other district in the country, and as soon as enough people wake up to that fact, it would be nice if we could have some kind of presence there instead of letting them win because we just don't have anything there. Someday Western Nebraska will be blue. Mark my words, because there is no logical reason for it to be red.

[NEDem]

7. Never happen.

The fact that there is no logical reason that it should be red says it all.

Anyone who is a republican and is not a millionaire is devoid of logic. The folks in western Nebraska vote god, guns and abortion. That's it, nothing else matters. You can spend millions of hours and billions of dollars trying to explain that we best represent their economic interests, and the pugs don't give a damn about their interests. When they walk in the booth its all about god, guns and abortion.

There are places we can't win, the western 1/2 of Nebraska is one of them. I have daily dealings with people out there, it's just not going to happen.

[TheFarseer]

6. How is that the main issue?

Kleeb roughly agrees with his position on abortion. The main issue is if we want to be represented in Congress or give our seat to out-of-state millionaires in the Club for Growth. Are we content with having virtually no economic opportunity in this district or do we want to try something new?What the heck is he supposed to do about abortion anyway? Anything they do will be batted down by the Supreme Court and they can't even vote on who gets on the Court, so I ask you, what the hell can Adrian Smith do about abortion other than scream at the moon?

[Omaha Steve]

8. I think Scott has a real chance to WIN!!!!

He is the best candidate in that district in many a year. He knows the first names of all five of his top contributers. Smith's are mostly from out of state and anti farm subsidies. That has to help.