Thursday, June 7, 2007

Jon Bruning officially enters Senate race

omaha world hearald

Published Thursday | June 7, 2007 Jon Bruning officially enters Senate race BY ROBYNN TYSVER WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

It's official: Jon Bruning entered the 2008 Senate race today.

Jon Bruning announcing his run for the Senate in the rotunda of the State Capitol.The second-term Nebraska attorney general said he will run for Senate whether fellow Republican and incumbent Sen. Chuck Hagel runs or not.

"I am a candidate without reservations," Bruning said at a news conference in Lincoln today. "I'm running hard and I'm running to win."

Hagel, who has angered many rank-and-file party members with his criticism of the Iraq war, has not announced whether he will run for a third term. He plans to make his decision in the fall.

Bruning said he is disappointed in Hagel's vote for early troop withdrawal from Iraq and Hagel's support of President Bush's immigration bill.

Bruning said he believes he can beat Hagel and former Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns if either get into the race. He tried to paint Hagel as an out-of-touch Washington lawmaker who is not a Nebraskan.

He referred to Hagel - who currently lives in Virginia - as a carpetbagger. Bruning said that if former Sen. Bob Kerrey got into the race he would also portray him as a carpetbagger.

Bruning noted that his supporters include former Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne, Omaha businessman David Sokol and state Treasurer Shane Osborn.

Bruning made his announcement with family and about 75 supporters in the rotunda of the State Capitol.

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