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Word has it that former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub will announce Thursday his intention to re-seek the Omaha Mayor's office in 2009.
**UPDATE at 6:30 AM**
Confirmed by the OWH.
**UPDATE at 8:15 AM**
Confirmed by Hal Daub press release (see below)
Daub has been a major player in Omaha politics over the past year. In his position on the MECA board influencing the new stadium build, Daub has stayed in
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Any excitement in the big races last night ended early. So, while we were watching the returns dribble in, here are a few things we learned:When Democrats are given the choice between the Democrat they know and the Republican they don’t, they’ll usually go for the Democrat.
Mike Johanns has already defined Scott Kleeb (anti-tax cuts, pro-choice, pro- gay unions).
Kleeb’s campaign apparently had
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Was it just us, or did Tony Raimondo concede as soon as the clock struck 8?
See Tony essentially call it for Kleeb on WOWT.
Well...that was fun while it lasted...
(So will Mike Johanns be gunning for Jim Esch's endorsement?)
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In our final race of the day, the Leavenworth Street Odds Makers look a the Democratic Senate Primary.
(See the GOP Senate Primary here.)
(And the Dem 2nd District Primary here.)
Remember way back when, when all the talk was about Bob Kerrey getting in the Senate race? He was buying a house in Dundee, and picking out kindergartens, strolling the Old Market.
And now this race is Tony Raimondo
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As we continue our Leavenworth Street Election Day Odds, we point you first to the 8 o'clock hour where we prognosticated on the GOP Senate race. Be sure to take a look.
Now we set the odds on the 2nd District Democrat primary between Jim Esch and Richard Carter.
This was a strange race from the start. Months back, Jim Esch, who came within 10% of Lee Terry two years ago, declared that Hillary
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It's that time again folks! The Leavenworth Street Election Day Odds! As always, wagering using these odds is only permitted in designated legal locations and/or off-shore servers.
We're only going to do three races here today, but we'll break them up over three hours:
The GOP Senate race now (8:00 AM CST);
The 2nd District Dem House race at 9:00 AM CST;
The Dem Senate race at 10:00 AM CST.
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It was probably a routine question by KMTV's Joe Jordan to Tony Raimondo: Will you support Scott Kleeb if he wins the Senate nomination?
And Raimondo's response: "I'll think about that later."
He'll think about it later?
That's right, Tony, who has been a Dem for about fifteen minutes, will have to weigh whether or not he'll support his new party's nominee. Because, he wouldn't want to
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Scott Kleeb is closing out the primary season with a new ad entitled, "Time". Take a gander:
Wow. Information overload! Quick, what's the theme here? Yeah, we don't know either.
In thirty seconds we see Scott in five different outfits, pushing (at least) six different ideas, with a two different narrators, and twelve -- count 'em -- twelve different screen "subtitles".
For instance,
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Posted: May 9th, 2008, 9:20am CDT
After Jim Esch's ham-handed political move of endorsing Tony Raimondo over Scott Kleeb yesterday, it seemed there was one obvious move for Richard Carter:
Endorse Scott Kleeb.
However, Leavenworth Street has received word that Carter does NOT plan to endorse anyone in the Senate race.
Apparently Richard Carter's plan of not raising money, not having an ad campaign and being a complete unknown
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Posted: May 8th, 2008, 4:35pm CDT
On Thursday, Jim Esch, candidate for the Democratic 2nd District Congressional nomination, went out of his way to endorse ...Tony Raimondo over Scott Kleeb for the Democratic Senate nomination!
Yes, you heard that right.
"Esch says he's convinced Raimondo is the most qualified candidate." For the life of us, we can't figure out any politically sane reason for Esch's boneheaded actions.
Esch
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Posted: May 8th, 2008, 9:10am CDT
Quick post on Tony Raimondo's latest ad, "Endorsement". Watch:
We give the production value on this one high marks. It pulls out good quotes, shows Raimondo with Bob Kerrey and Ben Nelson, and makes Tony's best argument:
"the best Democrat to face Johanns"
(once again, the OWH ripping off Leavenworth Street, but we digress...)
That's a pretty strong ad to go into the final weekend of the
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Posted: May 6th, 2008, 1:30pm CDT
With a week to go in the Democrat primary for Senate, Tony Raimondo has been taking a beating for donating about $500,000 of his own cash to his campaign. Now, forget for a minute that Raimondo said he was going to do that from the start. It's all new news now.
(We'll also put aside for now the fact that Kleeb has been running for office non-stop since 2005.)
(And we'll put aside that
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Jim Esch filed his FEC report -- on time!
Nice work Jim.
Esch has taken in nearly $80,000 this quarter for his challenge against Richard Carter for the Dem nomination for the 2nd District Congressional seat .
But lets take a look at who contributed.
We see that over $36,000 -- nearly 45% came from someone with the surname "Esch"-- all the primary max of $2,300.
(The list is not unlike the
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Posted: April 30th, 2008, 11:55am CDT
Mike Johanns will begin airing campaign ads today statewide.
**UPDATE 2:45pm**
Scott Kleeb also has a new ad up. See it with our commentary below.
His first ad, entitled "Proven. Tested. Trusted." is below. Take a look:
Our initial reaction is that this ad is...OK.
It generally gives a nice wrap-up of Johanns's career, re-introducing him to Nebraska.
But...
The initial problem seems to be
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Posted: April 28th, 2008, 9:39pm CDT
Tony Raimondo's latest 30 seconds up, entitled, "Experience". Take a look:
Now THIS is the type of ad that Raimondo should have had up initially. Much better summary of his background and experience.
Of course Tony also takes the first shots across the bows of the Mike Johanns and Scott Kleeb campaigns. But then, Kleeb has been doing that from the very moment he entered the race. (It's
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Well, you gotta say this about Rich Carter: If the kid is going down, he's going down swinging.
During last night's debate, Carter and Jim Esch were able to ask each other a question. Esch tossed a softball to Carter who swatted it away. And what does Carter do? He asks Esch if he'll take a drug test, just like many federal employees have to do.
Afterwards, Carter ambushed Esch with an
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Lee Terry (finally) has his new website up for the 2008 campaign. And we have to say that it is probably the best campaign website up these days, as far as the look, ease of use, photos, videos, etc. The "Issues" section has excellent blurbs on each point, though maybe could use a link to more fleshed out information.
Now all that being said, we here on Leavenworth Street are equal-opportunity
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First Scott Kleeb gives a non-answer to Joe Jordan about whether a woman should have the right to choose to have an abortion, then refuses altogether to answer Nebraska Right To Life's questionnaire.
Now Tony Raimondo has stepped in it.
We all know that Tony is a businessman and he's concentrating on business and business because business-business which is to say "business". But after telling
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Posted: April 17th, 2008, 9:08am CDT
Scott Kleeb up on TV finally. First, take a look:
Kleeb, sporting the ever-present tan sport coat, begins agaaaain, explaining how all his relatives are from Nebraska.
We then get lots of cowboy hats and ranching images, because if you hadn't heard, Scott Kleeb worked on a ranch. Yes we know, it's a shock, but apparently it's true. Sure he went to Yale, has been running for Congress for the
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Here is the latest TV ad from Tony Raimondo:
Not a lot of words.
Not much detail (though he has given a time table of one to three years to get out of Iraq).
Sounds lots like Ben Nelson.
Then there's that awkward arm fold.
And all the while Kamp Kleeb is strangely silent...
(More from Leavenworth Street on all the other campaign-related stuff soon...)
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A few weeks ago the Nebraska legislature debated issues regarding illegal immigrant rights. One very topical subject was prohibiting illegal immigrants from receiving in-state tuition at Nebraska colleges and universities. Remember that issue? Bet Tom Osborne does...
So when State Sen. Steve Lathrop voted against that prohibition, the Nebraska Republican Party called him on it. They sent out
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Posted: April 11th, 2008, 12:01am CDT
First a little Separated at Birth of Democrat operative, Scott's wife, and fellow blogger...
Jane Fleming Kleeb and actress Jeanne Tripplehorn
We dedicated this SAB to Jane, because of her shout-out to us on her V-log on MTV.com's politico site. She is the "Street" correspondent for Nebraska, talking about general stuff and political stuff. She propped our little blog the other day...and...
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Tony Raimondo has the first ad of the political season (not counting the early Hal Daub ads ) on the airwaves.
First, take a look for yourself, then our critique:
OK, for this little bio piece, to "tell Raimondo's story", they used thirteen different speakers. 13!!!
Without watching it again, did any one stick out? Was any memorable? (Well, except for the guy from ZZ Top at the end..)
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Joe Jordan of KMTV Channel 3 in Omaha recently quizzed Scott Kleeb on his abortion stance.
“Pro-choice or Pro-life?”, asked Jordan.
Kleeb then did his rattle-snake impression, twisting and turning, refusing to pin either label on himself.
Kleeb says he is personally against abortion, wants to reduce abortion, etc.
(See the video of Jordan's interview of Kleeb here.)
And that’s fine and all,
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Posted: April 3rd, 2008, 10:00am CDT
Jim Esch will be running a dishonorable, corrupt campaign that is pledged to special interest groups.
How do we know? Well, Jim Esch told us so.
You see, back in 2006, Jim vowed not to take any PAC money to fund his campaign. It was a dominant theme. He said it all right here:
I have made an unwavering commitment in this campaign to neither solicit donations—nor accept unsolicited
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Tom Osborne has apparently decided that his stint in politics is not over.
Leavenworth Street has learned that after the April 19th Nebraska Spring “Red-White” football game, Osborne will retire his position as Athletic Director and will mount a late write-in campaign for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate against Mike Johanns.
(Initial word is that former Husker great Dave
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In his Sunday column, Michael Kelly dropped this little political nugget for Omahans interested in next year’s Mayoral election: Two Republicans mentioned as possible candidates next year are former mayors — Hal Daub and P.J. Morgan.
Kelly then goes on to get comments from Morgan regarding the Mayoral recall drive, with Morgan saying: “I absolutely think it’s the wrong thing to do. It’s not
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Nebraska Democrat Senate candidate Scott Kleeb is being raked over the coals for the revelation that he apparently keeps a cinder block on the accelerator when he's out driving.
But this isn't the first time Kleeb's had trouble behind the wheel of a campaign vehicle.
Back in 1996 Kleeb, then an undergrad at the University of Colorado in Boulder, was working for ultra-liberal House of
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Posted: March 26th, 2008, 8:45am CDT
Scott "Lead Boot" Kleeb's driver's license has been yanked.
(Senate hopeful loses his license - OWH - 3/26/08.)
After getting his sixth traffic ticket in twenty-two months, Kleeb can't get his license back until September at the earliest.
And this is all pretty bone-headed too. Every candidate for a major office has someone drive him or her around. The candidate is usually on the phone,
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First up, suggested from a loyal reader, Separated at...Hair:
Tony Raimondo and Ferdinand Marcos!
What else is going on? Well, campaigns are getting up and revving. And that means creating websites, right? But no one, other than probably Mike Johanns, really has their campaign site up and finalized.
Scott Kleeb is asking everyone which logo makes him look most like a real-life cowboy. And Tony
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Posted: March 11th, 2008, 12:50pm CDT
Could Fahey be recalled?
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SecDef Hagel?
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Posted: March 6th, 2008, 11:05am CST
Kleeb: no time for Iraq
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Posted: March 4th, 2008, 9:30am CST
Primary colors
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Posted: February 28th, 2008, 12:19pm CST
Esch to run for Congress
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Posted: February 27th, 2008, 10:25am CST
Tony is furious with Ben
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Has Esch tossed his hat?
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Posted: February 25th, 2008, 12:25am CST
Scott Kleeb has been in the Senate race for, what, ten minutes?
And he's already gone negative on Tony Raimondo.
From the OWH:
Kleeb said the biggest difference between the two is that he, unlike his opponent, has always been a Democrat.and...
Noting that Raimondo opted not to compete with Johanns in a Republican primary, Kleeb asked how the businessman expected to beat the former governor in
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Posted: February 21st, 2008, 9:25am CST
As any political observers outside of a rock have heard, Scott Kleeb is planning on announcing his entrance into the U.S. Senate race.
A few thoughts:
First, how about the fact that Kleeb plans on announcing his intentions on Monday? Guess who is also announcing on Monday...Tony Raimondo!
Now it's one thing for Kleeb to get into the race at the 11th hour after Raimondo (via Ben Nelson) went
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Posted: February 18th, 2008, 2:00pm CST
People have gotten all hot and bothered about this, and since there's not a whole lot else (politics-wise) to talk about, we'll throw out this little post.
The Nebraska Republican Party decided to apparently have some fun with the nascent 1st District Max Yashirin for Congress campaign. They bought the domain MaxYashirin.com, and put it up with photos of Max Yashirin, from his FaceBook page.
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Things are finally in motion to make your 2008 more interesting, politics-wise.
As we had noted a few days ago, 1st District Congressman Jeff Fortenberry offically has an opponent for November. He is a 25 year old Lincolnite named Max Yashirin.
We've actaully heard quite a bit about Max at this point, but we're going to hold off on all of that for a while. There's lots of time. Let's just say
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Posted: February 14th, 2008, 9:30am CST
A Gift for Fahey
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Posted: February 13th, 2008, 7:30pm CST
Uncle W.
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Posted: February 12th, 2008, 4:30pm CST
More waiting on House candidates. Lee Terry said he's going to take this election seriously (so he can apparently win by more than 10% -- which, we keep hearing, was "really close"). Terry has around $455,000 Cash On Hand. Announced Democrat, Richard Carter, made his first foray in front of the party and on TV. And Don Walton of the LJS reports that who is out of the woodwork, but Jim Esch!
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Posted: February 9th, 2008, 8:30am CST
The New York Times and CNBC are reporting that the potential Presidential campaign of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel is essentially done-for.
Their source?
Chuck Hagel.
It seems that Hagel is telling any and all that with the emergence of John McCain as the Republican nominee, the odds of Bloomberg getting in the campaign have diminshed greatly -- since
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Posted: February 8th, 2008, 9:15am CST
So watching Barack Hussein Obama (that's what Nebraska hero Bob Kerrey calls him, right?) in Omaha yesterday, we got the chills! First he came out to the roaring crowd, got up there and talked about HOPE! and CHANGE! and pioneers and Abraham Lincoln and beating the Redcoats at Lexington and Concord! And we were all like, "Yeah! Damn those Redcoats!" And we were pretty pumped up about this Obama
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Posted: February 7th, 2008, 5:00pm CST
Kerrey for Hillary
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Posted: February 7th, 2008, 10:10am CST
While the Nebraska Dems have been crowing about how the Nebraska caucuses are essentially like having ESPN's Game Day come in for the Nebraska-USC game, it has turned out to be more like the Big XII Game of the Week. Think Nebraska vs Baylor. (Barack being Nebraska and Chelsea being Baylor.)
Oh sure there are some TV cameras around, and the TV stations have gotten a little richer by having
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Posted: February 6th, 2008, 11:40am CST
Word from various news sources is that Hillary Clinton has essentially conceded the Saturday, February 9th, caucuses and primary, including Nebraska's, to Barack Obama.
In a conference call with reporters, a Hillary campaign official conceded that Obama was "favored" in all three on Saturday, but that she could win both Ohio and Texas! In other words, she still doesn't care about the little
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Posted: February 4th, 2008, 12:25pm CST
One-month-old-Democrat Tony Raimondo announced today that he is filing for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. He said that he will be doing a fly-around tour later this month.
Taking a jab, apparently, at Mike Johanns, the 68 year old Raimondo said he will, "fight against the career politicians who unwittingly stifle innovation, economic opportunity and development." Then agian, maybe
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Posted: February 4th, 2008, 9:30am CST
How much for your Nebraska caucus vote?
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Posted: February 4th, 2008, 8:30am CST
Rest in Peace, Jan Terry
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Posted: January 9th, 2008, 9:16pm CST by tyler
In the wake of Hillary’s astounding victory (and by that I mean functional tie - 9 delegates for Clinton, 9 for Obama, and 4 for Edwards) in New Hampshire, one issue that seemed to help her was the electability factor. In the days following Iowa, Clinton garnered support by attacking Obama from the right, saying [...]
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“I find your lack of faith disturbing.”
But first, a recap of Episode IV: A New Hope, Obama wins Iowa…
Barack Obama - 38%
John Edwards - 30%
HIllary Clinton - 29%
The stage was set. The young junior hero from a strange planet called “Illionis” jumped onto the intergalatic stage as he took on Darth Vader and the [...]
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Posted: January 8th, 2008, 2:36pm CST by dave
I took over the UNO Democrats Blog just over a year ago, and I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity. Starting today, the UNO Democrats Blog is going to go back to a team format, with Tyler, Madison, Jared, and others taking over blogging duties. It’s been real fun, but it’s only fair to hand the reins [...]
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Posted: January 7th, 2008, 2:29pm CST by tyler
I have something to confess – I’ve been thinking of switching parties lately, or at least voting Republican in the coming Senatorial election. I know what you’re thinking, but honestly, the charisma and (pseudo-)enthusiasm of Mike Johanns has me hooked. Check out Johanns’ latest video:
Powerful stuff. He might be a career politician who’s quit every [...]