Right time in Senate for 'Big Ben,' (Nelson) other centrists

[Omaha Steve]

Free reg req: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2278853

Published Sunday
November 12, 2006

Right time in Senate for 'Big Ben,' other centrists

BY JAKE THOMPSON

WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

WASHINGTON - After six years as a minority party senator from a small rural state, he's poised to become "Big Ben" on Capitol Hill.

Boosted by the Democrats' takeover of the U.S. Senate and his own landslide re-election, Nebraska's Ben Nelson almost certainly will see his influence rise as a centrist leader.

"It's the Ben Nelson moment," said Marshall Wittmann, senior fellow at the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.

In Tuesday's elections, Democrats won control of the Senate with a razor-thin, 51-49, majority. Among the new Democratic senators headed to Washington are several who scratched out wins as moderates promising bipartisanship.

Nelson, a foe of abortion, friend of hunters and fan of tax cuts, has demonstrated how a Democrat can survive in a conservative state by working across Washington's party lines.

Next year, Wittmann said, Nelson and other centrists could be in a position to bless which bills the Senate will approve.

Nelson agreed. "We can become a force to help something to pass, or I suppose something not to pass."


U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson speaks to supporters Tuesday night in Omaha. The Nebraska Democrat received a boost from his party's takeover of the U.S. Senate and his own landslide re-election.


He's already seeking meetings with new Senate Democrats James Webb of Virginia, Jon Tester of Montana, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Claire McCaskill of Missouri.

He will team up again with another veteran centrist, Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who lost the Democratic nomination but won re-election running as an independent.

And he'll try to continue partnerships with Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both of Maine, and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

Full story at link.

[leftchick]

1. he is more like a right winger

than a centrist. :eyes:

[cali]

2. Like it or not- and I don't

Nelson and the others mentioned are going to be a powerful force in the Senate.

[skipos]

3. Nelson's approval ratings from Democrats in NE are about 70%

We may not like him here, but they like him there.

[acmavm]

4. Because we have a bunch of clowns running out party. A

suspender wearing corporate lawyer that needs a stool to see over the counter at a drug store. They tell themselves they're democrats. Believe me, they are not.

[wyldwolf]

5. "They tell themselves they're democrats. Believe me, they are not."

Sounds like some of the clowns on DU.

Wait! You're right. They aren't democrats. They're Democrats and belong to the Democratic party.

[justice1]

6. There is a reason for those numbers.

He doesn't brush off his constituents when they contact him for assistance.