Stuck On Stupid

Chuck Hagel & Pat Leahey (D-Vermont)

It seems that Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel (RINO) might have a problem for re-election in 2008. I say good riddance Chuckie don’t let the door hit you in your left leaning posterior.

This From the Nebraska Politics Blog Leavenworth Street :

With U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel announcing his quarterly fundraising numbers (Hagel has raised nearly $1.1 million – LJS – 7/13/07), we can now compare his fundraising with that of Attorney General Jon Bruning.

First their fund raising numbers to date:
Hagel: $1.1 million
Bruning: $721,000

It would seem that this is advantage Hagel, but Chuck’s numbers are a bit misleading. When Hagel’s guy Kevin Chapman said a few weeks ago that their numbers would be “well beyond” Bruning’s, he was referring to their fundraising since 2003. Well, we would hope they’d be over that. We confess that we assumed Chapman was talking about Hagel’s 2007 second quarter numbers.

When we look at the second quarter of 2007, we get:
Hagel: $388,000
Bruning: $721,000

…

More From the Omaha World Herald :

The latest campaign finance report by Sen. Chuck Hagel offers no hints about the Nebraska Republican’s political future.

Hagel on Friday reported raising $387,000 during the second quarter of this year, considerably less than the $720,000 reported for the period by Attorney General Jon Bruning, who is seeking the 2008 GOP Senate nomination.

Hagel held just four fundraising events during the three-month reporting period. He said he will decide later this year whether to seek a third term, run for president or leave public office.

If he runs for re-election next year, Hagel will be able to raise the money necessary to win, said Kevin Chapman, the senator’s political director.

“I have no doubt that if Sen. Hagel runs for re-election, the money will be there for him to win,” Chapman said. “You can’t conclude that because we’re not on a 24-hour, seven-day fundraising binge, that he’s not running”

He said Hagel remains focused on his duties in the Senate.

According to his latest report to the Federal Election Commission, Hagel has raised a total of about $1.1 million for the 2008 campaign cycle. He reported having about $483,000 in the bank as of June 30. Of that, about $100,000 is set aside for the general election.

Bruning, who began raising funds in mid-March, reported having about $620,000 in the bank as of June 30. Of that, about $100,000 also was for the general election.

“The difference gives a good snapshot of where the thoughts, the hopes and the will of Nebraskans are at this point,” said Bruning’s campaign manager, Jordan McGrain.

Bruning released his latest campaign finance report last week. At the time, Chapman said that the Hagel campaign would report raising “well beyond $700,000.”

Chapman stood by that statement Friday, saying Hagel has raised a total of about $1.1 million over the past couple of years for a possible 2008 race.

Several potential candidates in both parties are awaiting Hagel’s decision about his political future. Some, including former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey, have said they will consider running only if Hagel decides not to seek a third term.

Other possible Republican contenders include U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, Columbus businessman Tony Raimondo, former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub and U.S. Reps. Jeff Fortenberry and Lee Terry.

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