Ne. 2008 Senate Race: Which former governor might prevail?

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10133355

Published Sunday | September 16, 2007
2008 Senate Race: Which former governor might prevail?
BY ROBYNN TYSVER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

A possible title bout between political heavyweights Mike Johanns and Bob Kerrey for the U.S. Senate has the makings of a marquee matchup.

The clash of past champions would offer voters a choice between two distinctly different personalities, each with a lengthy public record to defend.

It would be a fight with national implications: Democrats would view it as a chance to widen their Senate majority; Republicans would be forced to defend a seat in a red state.

The only thing missing? The fighters themselves.

Neither man has entered the ring, despite being heavily recruited by his party.

Democrat Kerrey says he will announce a decision soon; Republican Johanns has kept mum.

FULL story at link.

Republican counterpart in the Senate for recruiting) reached out to Jon "Asshole" Bruning instead of Johanns last spring--why didn't Ensign initially recruit Johanns, who seemed ripe for the picking (since the Ag Sec. gig is going to be up soon) and is much more of a heavyweight than Bruning? Maybe because Johanns is a fairly moderate guy and a friend of Hagel, and the R Senate does not want to risk another maverick?

be a lot better off with a Democrat in that seat than a Republican.

I'm rooting for the blue ex-governor in this one.