US Senate candidates (Ne. Kleeb vs Johanns) trade political punches during debate

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10434770

Help Nebraska elect a D for Senate: Democratic Undergound for Kleeb US Senate


Published Tuesday September 16, 2008
Senate candidates trade political punches during debate
By PAUL HAMMEL
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

LINCOLN - U.S. Senate foes Mike Johanns and Scott Kleeb traded political punches in a debate today over campaign tactics, leadership in Washington and the crisis on Wall Street.


Republican Senate candidate Mike Johanns, from left, speaks at Tuesday's debate in Lincoln, with Green Party candidate Steve Larrick and Democratic Party candidate Scott Kleeb.

Over and over during the debate before the conservative Lincoln Independent Business Association, Republican Johanns emphasized his experience as a former U.S. agriculture secretary, Nebraska governor and Lincoln mayor.

"I will tell you, I’m the only candidate who’s actually dealt with the budget," Johanns said.

Just as frequently, Democrat Kleeb, who’s an instructor at Hastings College, sought to link Johanns with what he called failed policies in Washington and Lincoln. He argued that the only way to change the status quo was to elect new candidates like himself.

"The greatest risk we have is that nothing will change," said Kleeb, who blamed the nation’s budget deficit, energy crisis and economic woes on President Bush's administration, which had included Johanns.

He cited as an example of wasteful spending $20 million spent by USDA employees on travel one year during Johanns' watch, including a trip to Australia to study crawdads.


FULL story at link.

[kansasblue]

1. any current polling on that race? nt