Osborne Rules Out Run For Senate In 2006

By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press Writer

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A run for governor is on the table for Rep. Tom Osborne, R-Neb., but he said Thursday that seeking the Senate in 2006 is out.

Osborne said rampant speculation about his political plans fueled his decision to announce now his intention not to challenge Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson.

"I thought this Senate thing had taken on a life of its own," he said. "I thought before people got all worked up about it I better put the thought to rest. ... I had never seriously considered it."

Osborne's political future has been under the spotlight ever since Republican Gov. Mike Johanns was nominated last week by President Bush to be U.S. agriculture secretary.

more: http://www.yankton.net/stories/121004/new_20041210014.shtml

This has been a pretty good month for Nelson. His two most formidable potential opponents are not going to run against him.

The election is in two years, and he would probably have to start campaigning at the beginning of 2006. He would have to resign his cabinet position before he starts campaigning, so that would only give him one year as Secretary of Agriculture. He would probably have stayed in Lincoln if he were planning on running for the Senate.

Wouldn't AgSec be a position that could "bring home the bacon" to Nebraska? in a way a Governor can't do?

He can't run for re-election anyway and stepping down now might make the gubernatorial race a little easier for the Republicans (not that it can get much easier than "almost a sure lock") or maybe he wants to give his LG a leg up in the primary - (two years as the incumbent can only help).

I also still fear a deal with Nelson himself that makes this all moot.

was thinking that he would have brought some real fun to the upper house.....oh well...