Exclusive: Kerrey Not Sure Nelson Runs. Would Bob?
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Earlier this year former Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) strongly believed that Ben Nelson, would run for reelection to the Senate in 2012, today Kerrey’s not so sure.
“I’m not as confident as I was a couple of months ago,” Kerrey tells Nebraska Watchdog (see transcript below) in an exclusive interview. “I think (Nelson’s) genuinely trying to decide.”
Nelson is expected to announce his decision soon.
Kerrey, who has been politically close to Nelson for over 20 years, says he hasn’t spoken directly to Nelson but knows Nelson, has other “options in life.”
If Nelson doesn’t run would Kerrey?
Kerrey says it’s highly unlikely but he “wouldn’t rule it out automatically.”
Nebraska Watchdog: A couple of months ago you told me that you were confident Senator Nelson would run again. Is that still the case today?
Kerrey: I’m not as confident as I was a couple of months ago. I think he’s genuinely trying to decide. I haven’t spoken with him by the way, this is not firsthand knowledge. But I do take him at his word, I think he’s genuinely trying to decide…he was seriously considering not running a second time so I know he has other options in life and he’s really thinking about (not running) pretty seriously.
Nebraska Watchdog: So you wouldn’t be surprised if (Nelson) decided not to run.
Kerrey: Oh, in general I wouldn’t be surprised if anybody decided not to run in the current environment. It’s much more surprising when they do.
Nebraska Watchdog: If Nelson were not to run, because I’m sure you’ll get phone calls, would you consider it?
Kerrey: Oh I’ve been very pleased, in all the stories about him possibly not running, no one’s mentioned my name, I’m so happy. Leave it to Joe Jordan to be the first one to ask me. Would I consider it? I’d have to say yes or no. I guess I wouldn’t rule it out automatically. It’s not on my radar screen. I think it’s highly unlikely that I would. I went through the exercise pretty seriously in 2007 when Chuck (Hagel) announced he wasn’t going to run. It was more difficult then because I would have had to quit a job (President of the New School in New York) in order to do it. So it’s a little easier. Still I would say it’s not what I would consider being my logical career path.
Kerrey—who moved to New York several years ago—recently assumed the chairmanship of Global Scholar, an education technology company headquartered in Seattle.
Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org
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Posted under Blog, State Politics.
Tags: Ben Nelson, Bob Kerrey, Joe Jordan, Nebraska Watchdog
12:12 pm on December 9th, 2011
Bob…Bob…um, Bob? Bob, who?
12:30 pm on December 9th, 2011
Finally, the democrats would have a reliable vote. Please Bob, break out those tennis shoes one more time!
12:40 pm on December 9th, 2011
Wow! Let’s trade a corrupt old gasbag for an old moonbeam New Yorker…NE Dems must be so proud that their talent is so deep…LOL!!!
1:02 pm on December 9th, 2011
Silly kids, A good populist can kick the collective Nebraska establishments ass any year. Especially this one when they keep bragging about Mr. GOP Corporate Stephanie, like he is something special. Looks to me like the old Nebraska GOP can not get it up even with a truck load of Viagra and Digitalis. There are a lot of Prairie Populists of Nebraska willing to run, including Bob, if Big Ben opts out.
See you in battle kids no matter what, : ).
Dave
2:22 pm on December 9th, 2011
Bob Kerrey running for the Senate again?
Wonderful.
Maybe he can announce his candidacy, promising to reduce the debt, control federal spending on the pork bridge named after him?
Thanks for your vote in favor of partial-birth abortion also Bob, I sure the NY Village hipsters love you for that. Very gruesome.
9:27 pm on December 9th, 2011
Thanks a mllion times over for your service to this Country and Nebraska..Willing to give your life for all of us…libs/conser…demos/repubs. Hopefully we in Nebraska come to appreciate persons like you. a MEDAL OF HONOR WINNER! I stand and salute you Bob Kerry and am sorry I was unable to serve with you…a fellow vet..
10:02 pm on December 9th, 2011
Thanks Jason3 for using Bob’s service in the military to provide cover for his wacky, way too far left ideas.
I respect his service, so much so, that I don’t use it for political gain.
Respecting his service doesn’t mean then I must submit to Bob’s ego, nor agree to his political views.
Bob, stay in New York, with all your Saturday Night Live liberal secularists friends, don’t try to come back to little Old Nebraska to enlightened us.
Thanks for the memories Bob ;
gaining the national spotlight to cast the deciding vote for Clinton’s taxes & economic plans in exchange for a meeting on debt reduction, spending — how’d that meeting go….it really helped keep the spending under control didn’t it.
voting for late-term, partial-birth abortion,- immoral & gruesome to say the least…
Nice pork barrel spending project to get a bridge built in your honor — keepin’ it classy Cosmic Bob
11:35 am on December 10th, 2011
Bob kerrey left Nebraska a long time ago. He lives in west village in NYC in a multi millionaire dollar brownstone and both his sons attend NYC schools
3:12 pm on December 10th, 2011
Mr . Kerrey I am sorry that all the negative remarks have been made towards you by the above. Trust me we Democrats would be honored to have you run against the Repuglican nuts that are out there today calling them selves Christians while they act like the Devil in disguise.
10:31 pm on December 10th, 2011
Bob hasn’t lived in Nebraska for how many years? Yet the demonrats in Nebraska are willing to accept him as their candidate. Shows you the depth of the demonrat talent pool in Nebraska. Bring on Mike Fahey or Tom White.
12:37 am on December 11th, 2011
About the Bob Kerry bridge: Those of you who are knocking it are missing in action as this beautiful bridge becomes to Omaha – Council Bluffs what the Gateway Arch is to St. Louis. (You know, that big, “useless” stainless steel arch on the Mississippi Riverfront in St. Louis, Missouri…)
1:00 am on December 11th, 2011
I would welcome Bob Kerrey back anytime. A war hero, who lost one of his legs in Viet Nam, has overcome many obstacles to reach the highest places, and served with distinction. An academic and patriot, a man of great integrity, he would bring us all honor & comfort in this time of great unrest. A voice of reason is needed right now, & Bob Kerrey is definitely one of those. As for the bridge, a plaque on the bridge itself, names all the donors (many of them corporations)
who paid for this bridge. It is in use daily, for happy people of all ages who come to stroll, ride bikes, fly kites, walk their kids & dogs, & photograph the scenery.
5:31 pm on December 11th, 2011
I remember the job he did when he was Senator before..Sitting in committee and asking questions that in no way pertained to the subject at hand. Calling witnesses by the wrong names. As soone as he was otu of the Senate he high tailed it out of Nebraska to the more politically comfortable New York. NOW he wants to come back? Sorry Bob, you blew it the first time. Nebraska Democrats need to come up with VIABLE candidates, not old rehashed ones that have no interest in Nebraska.
8:21 pm on December 11th, 2011
Bob Kerrey’s wife is a former “comedy” writer for Saturday Night Live.
Comedian and actor Steve Martin officated Bob’s wedding.
Maybe Alec Baldwin will endorse “Cosmic” Bob when he decides to return to fly-over Middle America, little ol’ Nebraska
Bob Kerrey supports partial-birth abortion. It’s gruesome, brutal and immoral.
Being a veteran of war, its disappointing that Bob Kerrey wouldn’t have opposed the killing of innocent human life. But, Bob loves Planned Parenthood, just ask Jennifer Rassmussen who is on Nebraska’s Planned Parenthood board.
The Bob Kerrey bridge is a fitting tribute to unnecessary federal spending, not having our priorities in order, and pork. It’s appropiately named.
Instead of the Senate, I think Bob Kerrey would be more at ease running for King of Dundee or President of the Old Market…all the liberal secular hipsters at the Slowdown could have a fundraiser for him.
waltz right back to your village in New York….
3:12 pm on December 12th, 2011
FROM Leavenworth Street – -
“We always like how Kerrey’s name is brought up and no one says to him, “Uh, you know, you don’t actually live in Nebraska and haven’t for years and years, right?” Heck, even his bridge has one foot in Iowa.”
ME – We don’t need this carpetbagger!
1:22 pm on December 13th, 2011
Just get rid of ben the traitor nelson….kerrey I like personally but please you left Nebraska for the snobs in NY stay there..I just want nelson exposed for what he is a liar and a sneak and he can retire and spend his millions of dollars goodbye
10:14 pm on December 27th, 2011
A partial birth abortion supporter and war criminal has the same chance of getting elected in Nebraska than the middle east can of have a peace agreement and everyone celebrating dancing Kumbaya lol
5:01 pm on December 28th, 2011
I remember when Bob Kerrey was just back from Viet Nam. I heard him speak in my hometown of Austin, Texas. He was speaking out for Peace. It would be nice if the people who claim to be Christians, actually followed the teachings of the Prince of Peace.
As for the complaint from one of the writers above about Kerrey casting the deciding vote in support of Clinton’s taxes and economic plans— I’d just point out that Clinton raised taxes by less than 2%. It was such a small amount that people couldn’t even feel it.
He turned over a balanced budget to George W. Bush. And Bush gave us two wars— one in Afghanistan— and one in Iraq based on a lie. Neither war was paid for. We borrowed the money from China to wage the war. And Bush’s Medicare Part D doughnut hole drug plan also was not paid for. As bad as the war in Viet Nam was, at least LBJ put on a 10% surtax to pay for that war.
Finally I would remind you that it was Republican Sen. Phil Gramm who got rid of FDR’s Glass-Steagall Act. That was the legislation that successfully prevented us from having an economic meltdown for over 70 years. The meltdown finally hit us in late 2007, causing the loss of millions of jobs and hundreds of thousands of home foreclosures.