Nebraska Senate: Republicans Still Favored, Just With Unexpected Nominee
May 16, 2012 · 1:07 PM EDT
In the end, it was neither the establishment candidate nor the anti-establishment candidate who can claim victory in the GOP Senate primary in Nebraska.
State Sen. Deb Fischer took 41 percent of the vote on Tuesday to win the Republican nomination and will face former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) in the general election race to succeed retiring Sen. Ben Nelson (D). Attorney General Jon Bruning took 36 percent of the vote, while state Treasurer Don Stenberg drew only 19 percent.
For much of the race, Fischer was plagued by poor fundraising and never seemed to gain much traction until the race’s final days, when automated polling and her own internal surveys showed her within striking distance.
While Bruning was seen as the frontrunner for virtually the entire race, some big-name conservative groups, such as the Club for Growth and Sen. Jim DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund, were opposed to the three-term attorney general and looked to be helping Stenberg, who had lost three previous Senate races. The negative ads against Bruning and the lack of traction toward Stenberg in their negative contest allowed Fischer to slip through. Additionally, allies for Fischer (including Sarah Palin and Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry) came in late and somewhat under the radar.
According to…
Is Pennsylvania In Play for November? Maybe.
May 16, 2012 · 9:32 AM EDT
I never include the Keystone State in my list of presidential swing states for November. Am I making a mistake? Possibly.
There are plenty of reasons to leave the commonwealth of Pennsylvania off any list of the most competitive states that will decide the next president.
While the 2000…
Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones ...
May 11, 2012 · 9:20 AM EDT
Little did I know that what I figured was a relatively innocuous column about the Democrats’ problems in North Carolina, where the party will hold its national convention in early September, would generate such a flood of angry attacks.
“Dear Stuart,” emailed one man from Beulaville, N.C.,…
Indiana Primaries: Lugar Loses, House Races Come Into Focus
May 9, 2012 · 1:00 PM EDT
To loyal readers of the Rothenberg Political Report, Sen. Richard Lugar’s primary loss is not a surprise.
“Lugar is a highly-respected moderate conservative with a reputation of being willing to work across the partisan aisle to get things done. But in the current political environment,…
North Carolina Primaries: Republicans Narrow Their Fields
May 9, 2012 · 12:59 PM EDT
Congressional races in the Tar Heel State were already going to be uphill for Democrats, but in a handful of races, they’re going to have to wait until July 17 to know exactly which Republican they’re up against.
The GOP primaries in the 8th District to take on Rep. Larry Kissell (D) and in…
