However, focusing on the Democratic Party, Adkins did state that Kerrey did not do the party a favor by holding off on making his decision known. He says Kerrey could have actually damaged the party by waiting so long to announce his decision. Any office holder has until February 15th to file. Those not in office must file by March 1st.

Adkins says there are three things candidates consider when running for office. Number one is if they can win the election. Two, is what is the benefit and third, a psychological reward of holding an office. Adkins says all three likely played a part in Kerrey’s decision not to run for U-S Senate.

Adkins says since Kerrey is no longer a contender there will be a lot of emphasis on the Republican primary election.

Sen. Steve Lathrop/Unicameral Information Office photo

State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha confirms he is considering a run for United States Senate, now that former U. S. Senator Bob Kerrey has decided against a return to politics.

Lathrop, a Democrat, says Kerrey’s decision does influence his.

“It influences me in this respect; if Sen. Kerrey was running, I would have been a supporter,” Lathrop tells Nebraska Radio Network. “But, now that he’s made the decision not to run, I’ll be taking a look at that and making some decision in the next few days.”

Lathrop says he would have supported a Kerrey campaign, but since Kerrey is out, he’s considering getting in.

“Well, certainly, I want to talk to people that have been encouraging me to run and there have been more of those calls, as you might expect, since this morning’s announcement,” Lathrop says. “So, I’ll be talking to some of those folks, talking to family and then we’ll have some announcement or some decision in the next few days.”

Lathrop says he must meet with family members to decide whether he can give the total commitment needed to run a campaign for United States Senate.

“I think that anytime you make a commitment to run for an office where so much is at stake as is the case with the United States Senate that it is a total commitment of your time. Between now and November, it would become, in my opinion, a total commitment,” according to Kerrey.

Lathrop says he will be talking with a lot of people to help make a decision. He has until February 15th to file.

AUDIO: Brent Martin interviews state Sen. Steve Lathrop about possible US Senate bid [1:50]

Bob Kerrey

Bob Kerrey will not be returning to politics in Nebraska.

Kerrey has distributed an email stating, “I have given the decision of becoming a candidate for the U.S. Senate very serious thought and prayer. For many reasons I nearly said yes. In the end I choose to remain a private citizen. To those who urged me to do so, I am sorry, very sorry to have disappointed you. I hope you understand that I have chosen what I believe is best for my family and me.”

Once Sen. Ben Nelson announced his intention to retire from public office and not seek a third term in the United States Senate, speculation turned to Kerrey, a former governor and United States Senator.

Kerrey was in India when Nelson made his decision. Upon his return to the United States, he scheduled a visit to his home state to speak with fellow Democrats about a return to Nebraska and a return to politics. Between 2001 and 2010, Kerrey ran the New School in New York. Kerrey also conducted a series of interviews with the news media, including Nebraska Radio Network.

With Kerrey out, speculation now turns to three potential Democratic candidates: former Lt. Gov. Kim Robak, State Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha and University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook.

All three had deferred to Kerrey.

Custer County rancher Jim Jenkins says he’s still assessing the feasibility of an independent campaign. Jenkins says it appears the two-party system in the United States is broken. He says he will attempt to determine whether an independent candidate can bring Nebraskans together.

Some practical matters must be considered as well.

“Whether or not I can raise the money and build enough support to do it as an independent candidate remains to be seen,” Jenkins says. “I will tell you it’s probably a long shot, but it may be something I try just to raise consciousness and to try to maybe turn our state and country in a different direction; try open up the process to independent thought.”

Jenkins has some time to reach a decision. The Secretary of State’s office reports the deadline for non-office holders to file for federal office is March 1st.

A change in state election laws has given Jenkins a more difficult road to reaching the ballot. Jenkins switched from a Democrat to an Independent, but his timing couldn’t have been worse. The change in state law now requires him to gather signatures to make in on the ballot as an independent. Jenkins says he is considering a constitutional challenge to the law and is working with the legislature to change the law.

Jenkins is the former chairman of the Nebraska Ethanol Board. He runs a cattle ranch near Callaway. He began the Whiskey Creek Steakhouse chain in Nebraska and is the co-founder of the Skeeter Barnes Restaurants.

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [:45]

Cong. Adrian Smith

Nebraska Third District Congressman Adrian Smith is announcing his intent to run for re-election this fall.

Smith, a Republican, was first elected to the seat in 2006. He says he wants to run again to continue the progress he’s seen.

While Smith says the progress isn’t “tangible” to everyone, he wants to see a continued reigning in of spending.

While good economic and employment numbers are coming out lately, he says those trends will reverse without significant policy changes.

Smith says he sees some important legislation coming through his committees.

“Being on the Ways and Means Committee, we’ve got the opportunity to address our tax code,” Smith says. “I was glad the other night when the president talked about corporate tax reform but I wasn’t glad when he talked about all of these new loopholes he was introducing.”

Recent public opinion polls show Congress with a 9% or 10% approval rating. Smith says Congress through history has never had high approval ratings.

Jerry Oster, WNAX, Yankton

State Sen. Deb Fischer files to run for US Senate with Secretary of State John Gale

State Sen. Deb Fischer has made it official, signing paperwork in the Secretary of State’s office to run as a Republican for United States Senate.

Fischer filed after the filing of Attorney General Jon Bruning and state Treasurer Don Stenberg, who have been firing salvos at each other over who is the “true conservative” in the Republican primary.

“It’s an interesting question, but I think it’s kind of off-base,” Fischer told reporters gathered outside the Secretary of State’s office in the Capitol. “The question should be who has a record of being a conservative? Who has that proven conservative record? And I think that’s important.”

Fischer asserted she has built a conservative record during her nearly eight years in the Unicameral.

Fischer struck some of the same themes others in the Republican have struck. She said the country is in a crisis and the United States needs effective leadership in Washington to cut spending and balance the federal budget. Fischer said Congress also needs to grow the economy and grow jobs. Fischer unveiled her own economic plan recently.

Fischer stated her background as a state senator, a wife and a mother makes her candidacy stand out in an increasingly crowded Republican field. She said a return to politics of Democrat Bob Kerrey would increase national attention, but wouldn’t affect the outcome. Fischer said she senses that Nebraskans want a change. Sen. Ben Nelson, the incumbent Democrat, decided to retire from public office.

The deadline to file for the May 15th primary election in the Secretary of State’s office is February 15th, except for incumbents who have until March 1st to file.

AUDIO: U.S. Senate candidate Deb Fischer announces her candidacy after officially filing. [1:30]

Aaron Curry — 7:45 a.m. The 6’2, 275-pound defensive tackle will choose Nebraska and Iowa.

Alonzo Moore — 9 a.m. Nebraska, Northwestern State and Louisiana Tech. 6-’2, 175-pound athlete.

Devian Shelton — 11 a.m. 6’2, 185-pound cornerback, is considering Nebraska, Washington and Oregon State.

Andrus Peat — ESPNU will carry his live announcement at 12:30 p.m. The 6’7, 305-pound offensive tackle will pick between Nebraska, Stanford and USC

Vincent Valentine — 1 p.m. The 6’4, 313-pound defensive tackle narrows choices to Nebraska, Illinois and Florida

Raymond Ford — TBD. Nebraska, Washington State, Cal, or Utah are among the 5-’10, 165-pound cornerback’s choices.

Attorney General Jon Bruning

This week, candidate and state Attorney General Jon Bruning said he wouldn’t be taking part in all of the debates because he was busy with his job. Bruning said one of his primary opponents “ought to go try to do his job.”

Now Don Stenberg, the state treasurer, is responding to the comment by asking when Bruning will be getting to work.

“Almost ten months ago, I wrote a letter to the attorney general, asking for the attorney general’s opinion involving some state funds,” Stenberg says. “Now, more than nine months later, he still has not provided that requested opinion.”

Stenberg also points out to Bruning’s lack of participation at this year’s State Records Board meetings. Stenberg says Bruning did not attend any of them, and Stenberg thinks he knows why.

“The real reason he doesn’t have time to do his job or go to debates are the 24 businesses that he’s become a part-owner of since becoming the attorney general.”

Treasurer Don Stenberg

The debate about the debates got started after Stenberg says he was sent multiple requests to participate in candidate face-offs, including the February 11 Republican Liberty Caucus in Kearney.

He expects other candidates to take part, including state Senator Deb Fischer of Valentine, investment advisor Pat Flynn of Schuyler, and Omaha truck driver Spencer Zimmerman.

Earlier this week, Bruning said of Stenberg and the pending series of debates: “We’ve got a lot of time before the May 15th primary and I don’t see any need to have two dozen debates. We’ve received two dozen requests and we’re just not going to do that. We’ve gotta’ have other things go on in this state, including me trying to do my job as attorney general and maybe Don ought to go try to do his job as treasurer a little bit.”

Tyson Havranek, KHAS, Hastings