Daub (R-Ne) gets behind Johanns in Senate race

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10144759

BY ROBYNN TYSVER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER


A "Kerrey fear factor" has swept the GOP establishment in Washington, and national Republicans view Mike Johanns as their best hope to win Nebraska's U.S. Senate seat next year, former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub said Friday.

Democrat Bob Kerrey is still deciding whether to run for the Senate, but Daub said the belief in Washington is that Kerrey will run and that Republicans may have a fight on their hands.


With wife Mary, Hal Daub takes down his picture at the Omaha Press Club Friday. It hung in the same spot where Sen. Chuck Hagel's picture fell when the senator announced recently he was not running for another term.


That's why national Republicans support Johanns, said Daub, who dropped out of the Senate race Friday, saying he couldn't compete with Johanns in raising money.

Johanns is a former two-term governor and U.S. agriculture secretary who is expected to formally announce his campaign next month. President Bush has heaped praise on Johanns, and polls show him to hold a lead in the GOP primary.

"The system has decided that Mike Johanns will be the frontrunner, and (he) will have a substantial advantage in the financial requirements to mount a campaign," Daub said.

"When you put that together, I don't want to make another concession speech."

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