Deb Fischer Wins Republican Nomination in Nebraska Senate Race
Published at
Douglas Graham/Roll Call(WASHINGTON) — Mitt Romney picked up two more states on Tuesday, winning the presidential primaries in both Oregon and Nebraska. But the main focus that evening was on Nebraska’s Republican senate primary.
State Sen. Deb Fischer made a come from behind win to beat Attorney General John Bruning for a chance to occupy the senate seat being vacated this fall by Nebraska’s Ben Nelson.
Fischer, 61, was considered to be an underdog in the Republican’s senate primary battle. Bruning, 43, was seen as the frontrunner — he had higher name recognition than Fischer and his campaign far outpaced hers in terms of fundraising.
Fischer’s candidacy didn’t take off until late in the game, and for most of the primary season Bruning focused his attacks on Don Stenberg, who initially appeared to be his biggest challenger. The attacks lodged by Bruning and Stenberg likely ended up helping Fischer.
Texas Sen. Jon Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, released a statement congratulating Fischer on her victory.
“I congratulate Deb Fischer on winning the Nebraska Republican Senate Primary, and look forward to her election in November. The difference in this race couldn’t be more clear. Deb is a small business rancher, mother and conservative leader who believes we need to spend less, balance our budget and repeal ObamaCare, while her opponent supports bigger government and higher taxes” Cornyn said. “It’s time to restore fiscal sanity and enact pro-jobs policies in Washington and we can do that with Deb Fischer as the next U.S. Senator from Nebraska.”
Fischer will run against Bob Kerrey in the fall. The former governor and senator of the Cornhusker state officially won his party’s nomination on Tuesday, though he had been considered the likely nominee since he entered the race. Nelson, the state’s Democratic senator, announced he would not seek re-election in December 2011.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio