Hometown: Lincoln
1966 University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate
Served in Navy SEAL unit; Vietnam veteran; Medal of Honor recipient
Nebraska Governor, 1983-1987
U.S. Senator, 1989-2001
New School University president, 2001-2010
Bob Kerrey dashed a Democratic dream today.
The former Nebraska governor who gained national prominence in the 1990s as a Senate maverick announced today that he would not mount a comeback bid for the U.S. Senate.
In an email to media Tuesday, Kerrey wrote: "I have given the decision of becoming a candidate for the U.S. Senate very serious thought and prayer. For many reasons I nearly said yes. In the end I choose to remain a private citizen. To those who urged me to do so, I am sorry, very sorry to have disappointed you. I hope you understand that I have chosen what I believe is best for my family and me."
Kerrey, 68, was seen as the Democrats' best hope of succeeding retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson. With Kerrey out, Democratic recruiting efforts will now turn to two potential candidates: State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha and University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook.
Both said Tuesday that they remained interested. Both have until next Wednesday to make a decision.
Hassebrook said he planned to "reach out" to friends and others to see if there was support for his candidacy. Lathrop said he would planned to talk to his family about a bid.
A third potential candidate, former Lt. Gov. Kim Robak, said she had opted against a run. Robak said she did not believe there was enough time to quickly raise the cash needed to defend against expected attacks from Super PACs.
By all appearances, Kerrey seriously considered a run. He returned to Nebraska for a five-day tour, during which he often sounded like a Senate candidate as he talked about farm programs and economic development projects.
In the end, Kerrey decided not to return to the public spotlight. He had said repeatedly that he enjoyed his life as a private citizen.
"I'm happy," he said, grinning during a interview this month in Omaha.
One issue in a potential Kerrey bid was his home life.
Kerrey has lived in Greenwich Village since he left the Senate in 2000 and married native New Yorker and screenwriter Sarah Paley. The couple have a 10-year-old son, Henry.
He would have had to return to Nebraska and establish residency to run. Kerrey had said he would not, for political purposes, take Henry out of school in New York and enroll him in a Nebraska school.
His New York connections already were fodder for Republicans, who tried to paint Kerrey as an East Coast liberal and political opportunist.
Kerrey will no longer have to fight that fight.
Though Kerrey was considered the Democrats' best hope, Republicans still cannot take the seat for granted, said David Kramer, the former head of the Nebraska Republican Party and Omaha attorney.
Kramer said he believed that both Robak and Lathrop would make formidable candidates, although both would have a "very, very uphill path."
As for Republicans, Kerrey's decision may mean the field is set on the GOP's side.
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman had left the door slightly open for a Senate bid, but many Republicans had speculated that Heineman would only have seriously considered a run if Kerrey got into the race.
There are already three major Republican candidates in the field: Attorney General Jon Bruning, State Treasurer Don Stenberg and State Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine.
Contact the writer: 402-444-1309, robynn.tysver@owh.com
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