The primary is over. A tough United States Senate race lies ahead.

Nebraskans heard and saw a lot of ads during the Republican primary. Expect more, much more during the general election.

State Republican Party Chairman Mark Fahleson says neither party can control the millions which will be poured into the race by outside third-party interests.

“The reality is, come November, I think your average Nebraskan will be tired of this Senate race,” Fahleson tells Nebraska Radio Network. “It’s not by virtual of what Sen. Fischer or the Republican Party will do, it’s all the outside interest groups, both from the left and the right. The race I think is going to heat up pretty quickly.”

The two national parties will throw in their support during this election. Nebraska’s Senate seat is considered one of the keys to whether Democrats retain control of the United States Senate in Washington or whether Republicans win enough seats to reclaim the majority.

Fahleson insists Fischer is more than ready, despite her lack of statewide exposure and despite her unexpected primary win. Fahleson says Republicans will argue that Fischer’s lack of experience works in her favor, countering that the type of experience Democrat Bob Kerrey boasts has created the huge budget deficits and lack of effectiveness that gives Congress such low ratings in public opinion polls.

Kerrey has both served as governor of Nebraska and represented the state as a United States Senator prior to leaving for New York to become president of the New School. Kerrey entered the race after incumbent Democrat Ben Nelson decided to retire rather than run for a third term.

Republicans tipped their hand early in this race, disclosing a strategy that hopes to tout Fischer as representing Nebraska values against Bob Kerrey who they charge has adopted New York values.

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [:45]

AUDIO: Brent Martin interviews GOP State Chairman Mark Fahleson on US Senate race. [2:40]

Sen. Ben Nelson contends negative advertising was the real winner in the Republican United States Senate primary. The woman who won disagrees.

Nelson, the incumbent Democrat who is retiring from the seat, charged during a conference call with reporters that Republican Deb Fischer’s campaign was fueled by special-interest money which was aimed at the front-runner, Attorney General Jon Bruning.

“Deb Fischer may have gotten the votes, but ‘Anybody but Bruning’ won,” according to Nelson.

Nelson says that well-funded special interest groups saturated radio and television with attack ads, ripping Bruning, considered by most the favorite in the contest. Nelson says the third-party campaign sought to promote any of the candidates other than Bruning and Fischer benefited.

The charge doesn’t sit well with Fischer.

“There’s a reason I think that Sen. Nelson isn’t running and it’s because he’s lost touch with the people in Nebraska,” Fischer responded when asked by Nebraska Radio Network. “I’m on my way across the state now and I’ll continue to campaign across this state, meeting Nebraskans. That’s who won this election for me, the voters in the state of Nebraska.”

Nebraska Republican Party Chairman Mark Fahleson told Nebraska Radio Network third-party advertising certainly played a role in the race.

“Not necessarily benefiting Deb Fischer, but certainly to go after Attorney General Bruning,” Fahleson said. “And certainly it entered at the end for Deb Fischer, but at the end of the day, we had three candidates, it was a competitive primary, all three got out there and worked their tails off and Deb Fischer is our nominee and we’re excited to have her.”

Fahleson called Nelson’s comments sour grapes.

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [:45]

AUDIO: Sen. Ben Nelson analyzes the Republican primary for U.S. Senate [3:25]

AUDIO: Republican candidate for US Senate, Deb Fischer, reponds to Nelson charge [:35]

Deb Fischer

Republican Deb Fischer and Democrat Bob Kerrey disagree on most issues, but agree on one thing: they hold very different views of government.

Fischer surprised just about everyone by coming from behind to win the Republican primary for United States Senate, defeating two statewide officeholders. Fischer said she will go to Washington as a conservative bent on change if elected in November.

“We need to make a change in Washington. We need to change the way Washington does business if we’re going to turn this country around,” Fischer told reporters during a news conference held by Nebraska Republicans. “Nebraskans know that. Nebraskans have common sense. Nebraskans understand what needs to be done.”

Fischer’s stance smacks Democrat Bob Kerrey has uncompromising, which he said won’t address the nation’s problems.

“The differences for me are connected to the issues,” Kerry stated during a campaign stop in Lincoln the day after the primary. “I believe you have to cross party lines in order to balance this budget. Based upon my experience as governor and senator, it’s the only way you’re going to be able to get it done. Stand insider your caucus and say you’re right and everybody else is wrong, all you’re going to be able to do is maybe score political points. You won’t solve the problem.”

On the issues, the candidates stake our stark contrasts.

Bob Kerrey

Fischer calls for the repeal of the federal health care overhaul approved two years ago. Kerrey claims it would be a moral and economic disaster to repeal the law, though he suggests modifications should be made to the law. Kerrey advocates working to narrow the “wealth gap” which he says is a growing problem in the country. Fischer suggests such talk smack of wealth distribution.

The two do agree on one other thing. Both believe outside money will flow into the state during the general election, something Nebraskans heard on their radio and saw on their television during the Republican primary race.

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [:35]

Democrat Bob Kerrey speaks at Lincoln Airport news conference

Democrat Bob Kerrey said today different philosophies of government will compete in the campaign for United States Senate.

Kerrey is on a two-day campaign swing across the state the day after the primary election. During a campaign stop in Lincoln, Kerrey made light of comments by Republican nominee Deb Fischer after her surprising primary election win.

“State Sen. Deb Fischer last night said that we need somebody who’s different, somebody who is strong and somebody who is a Nebraskan and I thought she was about ready to endorse me,” Kerrey joked.

Kerrey said he has worked in the past, both as governor and as a United States Senator, with Republicans to solve the nation’s problems. He cast Fischer as a conservative unwilling to work with Democrats to bring down the deficit or resolve other problems facing the nation. Kerrey said that won’t work in Congress.

“Because I don’t think you are going to be able to solve this budget problem if you merely come at this thing and say that the Republicans are always right or the Democrats are always right,” Kerrey stated. “Republicans and Democrats are going to have to be sufficiently patriotic that they come together to finally get this debt and deficit problem behind us as we did in Nebraska in the 80s and as we did in the 1990s.”

Kerrey added he believes the country needs to work to narrow the widening wealth gap in the county. And, he said he supports the federal health care law, a topic he promises to bring up during the campaign.

Bob Kerrey speaks with a supporter at Lincoln stop

Republicans have claimed that the U.S. Senate race between Kerrey and Fischer will boil down to New York values versus Nebraska values. It a tag Kerrey flatly rejected.

“It doesn’t bare any resemblance to the truth. Other than that, it’s clever. That’s the best you can say about it,” according to Kerrey. “Nebraska values are values of patriotism and nobody’s ever accused me of not be patriotic. Nebraska values are values of faith, of family, of community. These are my values as well.”

Kerrey pointed out that he still has family and businesses in Nebraska. He said he left the state for a little more than ten years, because he had a job opportunity. Kerrey served as president of the New School in New York the past ten years.

AUDIO: Democrat Bob Kerrey discusses his campaign against Republcan Deb Fischer. [4:30]