Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • B2

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FRESH SHRIMP U-StopFillingStation(Philips66) FA IAnSeAFoodCo. $1.00 OFFWITHTHISCOUPON Sleep GreenEarthClean! 11ConvenientLocations Hoursofoperation: SunClosed www.williamscleaners.com Notgoodwithotheroffers. Mustpresentcoupon. 2541N.48 th 402-464-7447 SIMPLIFY METRO CrossroadsPavillion 233N.48thSt.#A•Lincoln,NE68504 HOE TORES www sb om 402.858.1776 om ar sign elc ome mat at Fir at ank Nebr ask a kno the right mor gage an mak the dif er enc or our fut ur all our mor gage specialis oda MAKING OUR FIRS MO VE EA SM By GRANT SCHULTE The Associated Press population has shifted steadily over the decades from rural areas and small towns to the cities of Omaha and Lincoln, but when it comes to the race, candidates from rural regions are dominating. The declared field so far includes Republican state Sens.

Charlie Janssen of Fremont and Tom Carlson of Holdrege, who have both pointed to their backgrounds in small- town Nebraska. Falls City businessman Charles Herbster also is expected to jump into the race, as is Republican Pete Rickets, making him the only candidate from Omaha. On the Democratic side is state Sen. Annette Dubas, a family farm and ranch owner from Fullerton, and Chuck Hassebrook, the executive director of the Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons. One potential urban candidate, Democratic state Sen.

Steve Lathrop of Omaha, embarked on a statewide tour in June but announced earlier this month that he would not join the race. The candidates already are working to establish themselves in the overwhelmingly rural but high-turnout 3rd Congressional District that covers all of western and central Nebraska, as well as the northeast and southeast corners. That focus on a vast district comes even though more than half of all Nebraskans live in one of three eastern counties: Douglas and Sarpy, encompassing Omaha and its southern suburbs, and Lancaster, which surrounds Lincoln. Those eastern counties have grown steadily while much of the rural west has seen population declines. you look at where the votes are coming from, I think why you see such a focus on the third said Phil Young, a Lincoln political consultant who has worked on legislative, congressional and U.S.

Senate campaigns. The candidates are looking to replace the term-limited Gov. Dave Heineman in a wide-open contest that existed since Heineman defeated former Husker football coach and U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne in the 2005 Republican primary.

Heineman campaigned aggressively in western Nebraska on his opposition to rural school consolidation and in-state tuition rates for the children whose parents legal U.S. residents. Osborn won in Lincoln and Omaha, but that was offset by victories out west. With no recent template in the race, candidates may be looking to Deb come-from-behind win in the 2012 GOP Senate primary. Fischer, who grew up in Lincoln, focused on her experience as a family ranch owner in rural Valentine and beat Attorney General Jon Bruning and state Treasurer Don Stenberg, who both live in Lincoln.

Republicans, who already have a statewide constituency, the 3rd District is arguably more important than the others because there are more votes said Paul Landow, a former Democratic consultant and professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. a Democrat, virtually impossible to win statewide office without carrying both Omaha and Lincoln by a wide Landow said Democrats Ben Nelson and Jim Exon, both elected governor and to the U.S. Senate, managed to win because both were conservative by party standards, and they seen as urbanites. Nelson pointed to his upbringing in McCook, and Exon was born in rural South Dakota. Would-be candidates still have time to enter the contest, but the window is shrinking for them to line up the staff they need to compete, said Mary Johnson, a Lincoln- based political consultant and lobbyist.

coming up fast on Labor Day, and pretty soon people are going say, got to go. got to do this she said. Johnson said rural candidates also may enjoy an existing network of friends and relatives who can help them with critical door-knocking in smaller towns. They also may be more familiar with rural water shortages, property taxes on agricultural land, and other issues that can help swing out-state votes, she said. Rural candidates dominate 2014 field Sure, there are philosophical differences and great legislative battles here, but divisions are not wholly partisan, probably with the notable exception of congressional redistricting.

Yes, there may be a few ideologues, but, hey, part of the deal in representative government. One look at Washington unfortunately, more and more people even bothering to look anymore after watching how damaging those partisan games are to the economy and personal security and the future reminds us how fortunate we are in Lincoln, where government works. So it appears The Nebraska Republican Party has formally expressed its support for congressional action that essentially would tie continued funding of the federal government to defunding of the health care reform law. the path Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep.

Adrian Smith appear ready to travel. a path that appears to have been rejected by Sen. Mike Johanns and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry. So far, it appears that Rep.

Lee Terry has paused at that fork in the road. If Congress approved that language in a continuing budget resolution and President Barack Obama chose to veto it, it would be the president who shut down the government, Douglas County GOP Chairman Bryan Baumgart argues in the blog Political Insiders Report. a the first anonymous comment on the blog responds. had every opportunity in the world to stop Obamacare in the 2012 election. Obama won handily; your repeal Obamacare mandate has been rejected by the American people.

Move on with your And so the argument rages on. Finishing up do we draft for Kyle Michaelis asks Nebraska Democrats on Twitter. His list of prospects: Jane Kleeb, Heath Mello, Brad Ashford, Scott Kleeb, Steve Lathrop, Amanda McGill, Jeremy Nordquist, Chris Beutler. probably a long list of draft-dodgers, with the possible exception of Ashford. Latest Republican chatter: Sid Dinsdale of Omaha, chairman of Pinnacle Bank, is mulling whether to enter the Senate race.

Already in: Shane Osborn, Ben Sasse, Bart McLeay. A couple of well-connected sources say Pete Ricketts definitely is in the Republican gubernatorial race. be joining Charlie Janssen, Tom Carlson and Charles Herbster. And there could be more. Janssen tweet last Friday worth noticing by other candidates: last Thurs: Valentine, Lincoln, Hastings, Prague, West Point, Columbus, Wayne, Gretna, Plattsmouth and Followed by: had to leave out Howells, Uehling and Papillion just to fit the hashtag in Deb Fischer makes Roll top 10 list of members of Congress scheduling town halls during the August recess.

She is tied for fifth with 11 town hall sessions. Adrian Smith is right behind with 10. Some online fussing about a $5 increase in the city wheel tax to help fund badly needed street construction and repair, a figure equivalent to two or three cups of coffee a year. Good news that a large contingent of leadership is coming from Omaha to Lincoln on Monday to meet with University of Nebraska leaders from all campuses. If our two vibrant cities, connected by a six-lane, high-speed ribbon, work together, really got something going now.

High on the list of what like to see at the new arena: basketball games in February that matter. Reach Don Walton at 402-4737248 or Walton Continued from B1.