By Deena Winter | Nebraska Watchdog
LINCOLN — Attorney General Jon Bruning said today he’s anxious to hold debates with the other Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, but thinks it’s too early to say how many should be held.
“I’m anxious to do debates,” he said during a press conference Monday after formally filing paperwork with the Secretary of State to seek election to fill the seat that will be vacated by Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson. “I really think we have to wait until the field is set.”
His top Republican rival, State Treasurer Don Stenberg, has called for six debates and another Republican contender for the seat, Sen. Deb Fischer, said today she supports as many debates as possible. But Bruning was not ready to pin down a number.
“I can tell you there will be debates and I look forward to them,” Bruning said. “Frankly, it’s what I love.”
Last week, Fischer said she believed the field was already set, but today Bruning seemed less sure, referring to “big names that are considering it.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m not really worried about it.”
Gov. Dave Heineman said he is being urged to run and hasn’t ruled out a run but loves his job as governor.
“I’m not going to worry about who my opponents are,” Bruning said. “I’m going to worry about why I’m running.”
And the reason he’s running is to reduce the size and scope of government and balance the budget, Bruning said. He noted that he is “leading the lawsuit against Obamacare,” which will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in March.
“Everything has to be on the table,” he said of the nation’s deficit.
Stenberg has pegged himself as the “true conservative” in the race, to which Bruning replied, “Ronald Reagan became a Republican when he was 50 years old.”
“My record speaks for itself,” he said. “I’m not going to worry about mud being thrown by other candidates.”
After formally filing, Bruning hit the road, planning to visit Grand Island, Kearney, North Platte, Norfolk and South Sioux City. Bruning was elected attorney general in 2002 and ran unopposed in 2006 and 2010.
Pat Flynn of Schuyler and Spencer Zimmerman of Omaha are also seeking the Republican nomination.
