Filing Deadline Day

**UPDATE**
See all of the 2010 Nebraska Primary Candidates here!

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Jim Geraghty's Campaign Spot blog at the National Review Online features analysis of the various Nebraska races.

After Geraghty's analysis of NE-2, a reader piped in with their own analysis of Terry v White:

The Nebraska Second is NOT a competitive race.

First of all, the Democrat brand is currently dead in Nebraska. Thank you, Ben Nelson, thank you, Omaha mayor/cranky-old-man Jim Suttle, thank you Nancy Pelosi. 

Second, Obama’s superb campaign organization won the NE-2 but was not able to carry their guy across the finish line. As we have seen in races around the rest of the country, Obama’s organization was a one-hit-wonder. Will it be around in 2012? Maybe, but it won’t be operative in 2010. 

Third, Lee Terry is a decent enough Congressman. 

Fourth, Tom White is [what Mr. Bumble called the law]. Nobody likes him in the legislature. He is currently ticking off the local Democrats by trying to knock down a double taxation issue that is worth millions of dollars to Omaha. He is also one of the lead idiots in the Safe Haven law that made Nebraska the laughingstock of the nation. I happen to agree with him on the double taxation issue, but I think the issue is technical enough that it won’t help him with most Independents. 

I think Lee Terry wins by 10 this year.

We don't think this came from the Terry campaign. Because, when you think about it, they want the national readers to think it's close so they can keep the donations coming.

Maybe it was a White supporter?

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Speaking of the Nebraska deadline, you can go to the Nebraska Secretary of State's website for the updates on who has filed and who hasn't -- though we would guess they may wait until tomorrow for the final tally?

As we have noted in our Tweets, Jeff Fortenberry gained a third Democrat opponent late last week in one Ivy Harper -- a former Hill staffer who has also penned a Bob Kerrey bio. You can see her very green website here.

And then there's the Democrats favorite Democrat (haw!), Kris Pierce.

Pierce, the former ED of the Douglas County Democrats had filed for Secretary of State. Then as of yesterday, he sent out a letter to supporters telling them he was dropping out of the SoS race, and instead putting all his efforts into replacing Chuck Sigerson on the Omaha City Council. In particular he said:

My full attention will be to seek and fill the vacant seat on the Omaha City Council...

Uh, which is swell and all, but his "full attention" is basically on convincing four Council members to place him. That's it. It's not as if he's out campaigning. He's not going door to door -- or if he is, he only has six to visit.

Just sort of a strange message to send out -- and many Democrats tell us they aren't surprised by said message.  But the note he sent makes it sound like he has the votes locked up...

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A nice article in praise of Senator Mike Johanns today in the National Journal Congress Daily (subscription).

While Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., is getting much of the attention, freshman Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., has quickly and quietly become a rising star within his caucus.

As a former mayor, Nebraska governor and Agriculture secretary under President George W. Bush, Johanns said he arrived in the Senate familiar with his state and Washington. And with an experienced staff, he recorded some notable legislative successes last year, including passage of an amendment preventing the use of reconciliation on cap-and-trade legislation and amendments to appropriations bills cutting off federal funding for the embattled community group ACORN.

Using a soft-spoken Plains manner to deliver a firmly conservative message, Johanns is a frequent participant in news conferences with Senate GOP leaders on health care and other issues. Colleagues said he also has become a respected voice in his caucus.

"It didn't take him long to figure out what was going on," Senate Minority Leader McConnell said in an interview. "I'd be hard pressed to remember a freshman senator who so quickly got into the flow. He's been extraordinarily effective when you consider he just got here."

McConnell called Johanns knowledgeable on a number of policy fronts, but noted he built support for his positions quietly. "He doesn't just jump up and pound his views all time," McConnell said.

...

McConnell noted Johanns worked with Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., on a letter, eventually co-signed by about 30 senators, laying the foundation for the reconciliation vote.

"What Mike did was to show there was bipartisan opposition," McConnell said.

...

McConnell called Johanns "one of our members who can deal with and talk to Democrats."

...

But the early success doesn't appear to be going to his head.

"We had a good first year and want to work hard to make sure there's a good second year and a third year and fourth year and fifth year and sixth," (Johanns) said.

He described his ambitions as solving real problems and "treating people decently."