Premium Sponsor

Featured Sponsor

Our Sponsors

Ad Networks

Buy an ad on all of the top liberal blogs with just one click.

Site Stats

NE-Sen: Fahey Considering a Run

by: DaveSund

Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 12:29 PM EST

(If Hagel decides to skip a re-election bid (for whatever reason), this could be a marquee race. Nebraska has a long history of electing Democrats to the U.S. Senate. - promoted by James L.)

From today's Omaha World Herald:

Mayor Mike Fahey knew what was coming when he agreed recently to meet with two of the nation's top Democrats - a pitch for him to run for the U.S. Senate.
In the past, Fahey quickly blunted any speculation that he was interested in running for higher office. That has changed, with Fahey now saying he will consider a Senate race if Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel doesn't seek re-election in 2008.
Late last month, Fahey was in Washington, D.C., for a mayors conference when he was asked to meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
"They talked to me about the Senate race, and they were very complimentary," Fahey said. "They said all the right things."

The DSCC is apparently recruiting Fahey to run for the seat, that's a very good sign. It's worth noting that this is only a possibility if Hagel does not run for reelection, but if Fahey does run for Senate, this becomes a tremendous pick-up opportunity.

DaveSund :: NE-Sen: Fahey Considering a Run

Tags: NE-Sen, (All Tags)

Print Friendly View

Send As Email

NE-Sen: Fahey Considering a Run | 8 comments

Options

It seems we don't have many options for D's strong enough to run in '08. Fahey is probably our strongest bet and at least he's not as conservative as Nelson! What would keep Fahey out? Hasn't he said he wants to run for re-election? And if Fahey went for Senate, do you think there is any possibility for Anne Boyle to run for Mayor? I like her a lot.

by: HuskerLady75 @ Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 14:14:58 PM CST

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Why is Fahey

Considered as strong as he is? I don't know much about him.

by: DavidNYC @ Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 15:36:49 PM CST

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Fahey

He narrowly defeated a decently popular Republican mayor (and possible 2008 Senate candidate, Hal Daub) in 2001. In 2005, he creamed his Republican opponent, winning reelection easily. So, that's part of it. He's a Democrat who got over 60% of the vote in the state's largest city. He's got strong union support, strong fundraising, and he's overseen tremendous growth in the city of Omaha as mayor.

by: DaveSund @ Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 17:20:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

pretty much the same reason

Bill White and Bob Paterson are considered strong statewide in their respective states. Not only does he have an extremely strong, tight base in Omaha, the state's largest city which normally leans to the Republicans in state elections, but his popularity extends over to the Omaha suburbs and exurbs, which NE-03, Jeff Fortenberry's district. They're some of the most conservative portions of the state, and probably why Democrats have been doing so poorly in that district of late.

Chuck Hagel will probably retire because the Goper who beat the opportunistic Republican turned Democrat state Treasurer, I think his name is Jon Porter, Jon something, come on people, I can't be expected to know the name of every satewide officer in the united states, has already announced he run, regardless if Chuck Hagel retires or not. So, I think he'll retire and risk it all in a race for President, rahter than run fo reelection and risk being defeated in his primary by another statewide officer.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 16:33:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Re-election...

This seems to be the strongest indication yet from Fahey that he will run. I think he's just waiting on Hagel's decision. If Hagel does decide to run again, then Fahey will probably run for another term as mayor. Otherwise, the rumored candidates for mayor would be Jim Vokal for the Republicans and Jim Suttle for the Democrats. Since it's an open primary, though, there could be more candidates. As much as I like Anne Boyle, she couldn't beat Vokal in his district, so I doubt she can beat him citywide.

by: DaveSund @ Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 17:23:48 PM CST

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

What about Scott Kleeb?

He did remarkably well -- 46% -- in the most conservative Congressional district in Nebraska, where John Kerry had polled 25% just two years earlier. And we have to consider that Scott Kleeb was a political rookie who had been propped up by the netroots.

If he ran statewide for the Senate in an open seat (which includes less conservative parts of Nebraska), he could probably win. Not to mention that he's devastatingly handsome!

by: paulhogarth @ Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 20:41:16 PM CST

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

Kleeb's a great candidate...

He's also young, which means he's got plenty of time to run. I don't know what he's running for yet, or if he's running in 2008. But he's got a bright future ahead of him.

by: DaveSund @ Sun Feb 11, 2007 at 21:03:51 PM CST

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

To post this comment click here:

Otherwise click cancel.

I've been hearing rumors

that's he going to go after a Republican incumbnet in the state senate in 2008. Is it true, is so, I think he's really got possible gubernatorialship candidate written all over him. He could run when Heinemann is term limited out, in 2014, or he could for some otehr state wide office, th office, and then for the Goivernorship, and then for Nelson's seat just in time to hold it while it's open.

Call no man happy until he is dead-Aeschylus

by: ArkDem the Ragin Cajin @ Mon Feb 12, 2007 at 16:36:57 PM CST

[ Parent ]