Nebraska Senate Poll: Kerrey Way Behind

Former senator Bob Kerrey, a Democrat from Nebraska, may be regretting his decision to change his mind and run for his old Senate seat, given this latest poll from Rasmussen showing him behind his possible Republican opponents by double digits:

A new telephone survey of Likely Nebraska Voters finds state Attorney General Jon Bruning earning 55% support to Kerrey's 33%. Four percent (4%) like another candidate in the race, and seven percent (7%) remain undecided.  

If former state Attorney General Don Stenberg is the GOP nominee, Kerrey trails 52% to 34%. Five percent (5%) favor some other candidate given that matchup, while nine percent (9%) are undecided.

When pitted against State Senator Deb Fischer, Kerry runs slightly better but is still behind by 12 points, trailing 46% to 34%.  Ten percent (10%) support another candidate in that race, while just as many (10%) are undecided.  

Kerrey was governor of Nebraska from 1983 to 1987, and he later served in the Senate from 1989 to 2001. After leaving Congress, Kerrey moved to New York City to serve as president of the New School, a progressive university. Nebraskans may not appreciate that Kerrey has spent his post-Senate career away from his home state--or perhaps he's been away so long he's become an unfamiliar name and face.