GOP Has Tried to Recruit Johanns for Hagel's Senate Seat
Associated Press
Thursday, September 20, 2007
OMAHA, Sept. 19 -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is expected to resign Thursday to clear the way for a Senate campaign in 2008, giving Republicans a welcome dose of good political news.
President Bush plans a White House announcement Thursday morning with Johanns, a senior administration official said Wednesday. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the announcement has not been made, would not confirm that Johanns is resigning.
Johanns has not confirmed his intention to run for Senate, but other Republican officials said Wednesday that he will seek the seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel.
Johanns was heavily recruited to run by senior Republicans, struggling with a difficult political environment 14 months before the 2008 elections. The GOP must defend 22 of 34 Senate seats on the ballot next year, a task complicated by Bush's poor ratings and widespread public unhappiness with the Iraq war.
Incumbent Republicans in New Hampshire, Maine, Oregon and Minnesota face difficult challenges, and GOP retirements in Virginia and Colorado give Democrats additional targets. Democrats have also been recruiting former senator Bob Kerrey to return home to Nebraska to run for Hagel's post.
Republican officials said numerous prominent Republicans had urged Johanns to run, including Sen. Mitch McConnell, the party leader, and Hagel, who is stepping down after two terms.
Johanns, 57, was mayor of Lincoln from 1991 to 1998, when he was elected governor. He won reelection to a second term in 2002 and became agriculture secretary in 2005.
He has refused to say publicly whether he is interested in Hagel's seat. But on Saturday, as the state GOP dedicated its headquarters to Johanns and his wife, Stephanie, the secretary said he and his family will return to Nebraska when his Cabinet job is done.
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