2008 Campaign Engaging, but Not Overwhelming, Nebraskans

By Bridget Hunter

The headlines of the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper in recent days underscore that Nebraska is a centered, grounded, well-rounded state. Not for Lincoln are the screaming headlines of the nation's big-city papers, which seem to hang on the latest polling data and the most recent twist on the campaign trail in the last days of the presidential race.

No, the big story on Friday in Lincoln was how the University of Nebraska football team (the beloved Huskers) would fare in Saturday's battle against Oklahoma. There was news about Halloween activities and information about the state's unemployment rates (still low) and a story about a local ethanol-producing company. And, oh yes, there will be an election next Tuesday. The newspaper's Web site offers a link to an online tool with which voters can confirm their registration information and locate their polling places.

This is not to suggest Nebraskans take their civic duties lightly. On the contrary, in the last 40 years, the state's voter turnout rates have been consistently higher than the nation's average, and likely will top 70 percent in 2008, according to a statement from the Nebraska secretary of state. But Nebraskans seem to have a way of keeping their perspective in politically charged times and not getting overly agitated about partisan politics. The state is also a bit of a political anomaly.

For instance, with registered Republican voters holding a strong majority, Nebraska should be a reliably "red" state -and so it has been in presidential elections. However, four of its five most recently elected U.S. senators, including incumbent Ben Nelson, have been Democrats.

Another political quirk nearly unique to Nebraska is that it will award its five Electoral College votes by results in congressional districts rather than all to the statewide winner, as do all other states except Maine.

In 2008, there is the potential for an electoral split to occur in Nebraska, because polling suggests that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is competitive in the Nebraska 2nd, the district that comprises ethnically diverse Omaha and its suburbs. Republican candidate John McCain seems to enjoy a comfortable margin of voter support in the other two districts.

THE NEBRASKA 1ST BALLOT

As in other congressional districts across the nation, the Nebraska 1st ballot will include candidates from more parties than just the Republican and Democratic.

For U.S. Senate, the names of Republican nominee Mike Johanns and Democratic nominee Scott Kleeb will be joined by those of Green Party candidate Steve Larrick and Nebraska Party candidate Kelly Renee Rosberg. All aim to succeed popular first-term Republican Chuck Hagel, who chose not to seek another six-year term.

Polls indicate Johanns enjoys a substantial lead, but Kleeb continues to campaign hard. On October 23, Kleeb announced his "10 Commitments" to Nebraska, which include not accepting a pay raise unless the federal budget is balanced, posting his full schedule on the Internet and refusing to participate in any secret meetings.

Two candidates vie to represent the Nebraska 1st's 24 counties in the U.S. House of Representatives, as two-term incumbent Jeff Fortenberry, a Republican, faces a challenge by Democratic nominee Max Yashirin. (See "Nebraska Races Pit Youth Against Experience ( http://www.america.gov/st/elections08-english/2008/October/20081015091055abretnuh0.7625849.html?CP.rss=true ).")

In 2008, as in most election years, voters in many states will be endorsing or rejecting a variety of ballot initiatives. Nebraska voters are being asked to weigh in on a potential change to the state constitution.

The Nebraska Civil Rights Initiative is a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban the use of preferences based on race or gender in public hiring and academic admissions.

Supporters of the proposal say such preferences, known as "affirmative action," are simply another form of discrimination and eliminating them entirely is the only way to ensure equality for everyone.

Opponents, including the University of Nebraska and many local business and civic leaders, say the proposal would eliminate programs established to ensure more opportunities for groups now underrepresented in many professional fields in Nebraska. It would also roll back efforts under way to diversify university campuses.

However, University of Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman maintains passage of the initiative will not force the university to waver in its commitment to diversity.

"Let me be clear: While we will fully comply with the law, we would continue to evaluate units and administrators on their ability to achieve diversity," Perlman said at his annual "State of the University" address in September. "We would continue to devote resources to compensate for the disadvantages placed upon us by this initiative."

Nebraska was one of five states targeted in 2008 in a national movement to end affirmative action in the United States. The effort, led by the California-based American Civil Rights Institute, also promoted initiatives in Colorado, Arizona, Missouri and Oklahoma. Due to allegations of petition fraud, initiatives only made it onto the Nebraska and Colorado ballots.

This issue is more hotly contested than many of the state's political races. Proponents and opponents of the measure will have spent more than $1 million combined by Election Day trying to persuade voters to their points of view.

Regardless of how they cast their ballots on Tuesday, voters in the Nebraska 1st will remain quintessentially Nebraskans, united by common interests and commitments that supersede political affiliations.

This article is part of America.gov's continuing coverage of seven of the 435 U.S. congressional districts during the 2008 campaign. Each offers a different prism through which to view U.S. politics. For more information, see U.S Elections - State and Local ( http://uspolitics.america.gov/uspolitics/elections/stateandlocal.html ).

Source: U.S. Department of State

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