Tuesday was Republican primary day in Nebraska. Incumbent Senator Ben Nelson is retiring, making this an open seat, the type where a party change is most likely to happen. The Democrats have decided to run retread Bob Kerrey to retain the seat for Democrats, a tall order in a state that doesn’t care at all for Barack Obama.
Republicans had three main candidates:
Jon Bruning is the Attorney General of Nebraska and had an unstoppable lead in the polls up until last weekend, hovering around 45%. He was the “Establishment” candidate, including the fake tea party being run by the Republican Party under the name of “the Tea Party Express” and Freedom Watch, run by Dick Armey With Romney now securely lined up, the establishment fell in line – endorsing Bruning was Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, the US Chamber of Commerce, Nebraska Right to Life,
Don Stenberg was the Ron Paul candidate, polling around 15-20% of the vote.
Deb Fischer is a relatively inexperienced state legislator [bio]. Education was her main focus when running for state office.
So what happened in the last week of the campaign that caused a shift of 12% of the vote? Sarah Palin endorsed her. Mrs Fischer won the primary by 41% to 36% (the Ron Paul candidate getting 18%)
Republicans – are you paying attention? The problem in 2008 was John McCain, not Sarah Palin.
I’m shocked I tell you! Not a single word about this on Fox News Radio this morning.
In the past, I’ve used stories like this as an example to show media bias on what different newspapers assign a headline to a story to “spin” the news….. let’s look at some typical headlines
Boston Globe: Nebraska sets stage for Kerrey, Fischer race
Boston Herald: Nebraska state lawmaker wins right to take on Sen. Bob Kerrey
Wall Street Journal (News Corp): Nebraska’s Deb Fischer Pulls Upset in Primary
LA Times: Upstart state lawmaker wins Nebraska’s GOP Senate primary
Reuters: Nebraska rancher scores upset in Senate primary [Moo!]
NY Times Blog: Nebraska State Senator Upsets Rivals for GOP Nomination
Associated Press: Focus of primary races shifts to top state races
Politico: Deb Fischer wins Nebraska Senate stunner
Christian Science Monitor: Nebraska’s GOP Senate primary: another tea party surprise?
CNN International: GOP picks candidate to face former Sen. Kerrey for Nebraska seat
Bloomberg: Nebraska US Senate Race TV Ads: $5 Million and Counting
CBS: In upset victory, Fischer wins Nebraska Senate primary
ABC: Deb Fischer clinches Nebraska Senate nomination in surprise upset
Nebraska TV: Fischer Shocks Bruning [with her rancher’s cattle prod?]
Washington Post blog: State Sen. Deb Fischer pulls big upset in Nebraska GOP Senate primary
Democratic Underground: Super PAC cash plays big role in Nebraska Senate Race
Slate: Nebraska: Prepare Yourself for Stories About Sarah Palin, Kingmaker
I remember in ’08 when I received my McCain/Palin bumper sticker, I cut it lengthwise and to make it look Palin/McCain. I wonder if Sarah would beat The Comrade.