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Senator Deb Fischer Hat in Widening GOP Ring for Nebraska’s US Senate Seat

Lots of choices for GOP Primary

Immediately following the mid-term elections in November, speculation ended regarding whether the Governor Dave Heineman – Ben Nelson media sparring would result in a 2012 election showdown for one of Nebraska’s US Senate seats. By the end of election week, Nebraskans were then informed, just-re-elected Attorney General Jon Bruning had formed an exploratory committee.

In my November 8 article, “Jon Bruning Announces Bid For Senate – We Should Listen To Our Mommas“, considering it was two full years before the 2012 general election and some of Bruning’s very large campaign contributions in an uncontested race were a bit disquieting, it seemed prudent to heed the advice in the song “Shop Around”, so we aren’t “sold on the very first one”; there would very likely be other candidates.

And other candidates, there certainly are. State Treasurer-elect (at the time of his announcement) Don Stenberg announced his candidacy, actually bringing the total candidates in the GOP primary race for the seat to three. Turns out, Schulyer investment and insurance advisor Pat Flynn formerly/http://flynnforsenate.com/, had registered his candidacy with the Federal Election Commission in 2009. June 18th (2011) added to the number of candidates with an announcement from 31 year old Omaha truck driver Spencer Zimmerman.

As noted in the Lincoln Journal Star’s report about Zimmerman, State Senator Deb Fischer, of Valentine, was expected to announce her candidacy. Leavenworth Street, a popular site maintained by the mysterious (and often snarky) “Street Sweeper” reported on Monday that Fischer would make her announcement today.

Due to my “hiatus”, we are obviously behind in keeping to the pledge made back in November that we would share information we’ve gathered on all the candidates. While there is much to report about the GOP primary and its growing field of candidates, for the moment, I’ll point people to a document we’ve just released regarding GiN’s policy on primary elections; click HERE to read it online. We’ll continue “playing catch up” from here on out.

Meanwhile, since Senator Fischer’s announcement is expected today, we’ll at least share some information about her by providing a number of informative links (thanks to Linda!):


Follow the Money

Career Profile formerly (Ms. Fischer’s contributor lists for 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010 are linked from here.)

Project Vote Smart

Summary Page

Complete biography for Senator Fischer

Political Courage Test (2004) formerly http://www.votesmart.org/npat.php?can_id=41963

Interest Group Ratings

Campaign Finances formerly http://www.votesmart.org/finance.php?can_id=41963

Voting Record formerly http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=41963

Nebraska Chapter, National Federation of Independent Business

NFIB’s Rating of Nebraska State Senators

Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom

2008 Legislative Ratings Explained

Link to overall ratings for 2008 formerly/http://www.netaxpayers.com/LEGWATCH8.htm (Note: The highest rating given to any state senator was 59.4%; Ms. Fischer’s was third highest at 52.8%)

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Stubborn_Facts

Shelli Dawdy is first and foremost the mother of three children whom she has taught at home via the classical method since removing her children from school in 2001. During her early years as a homeschool mother, she worked part-time as a freelance writer. Born and raised in the Iowa, Shelli and her husband moved to the state of South Dakota in 1997, attracted to its more limited government and friendly tax environment. In 2006, Shelli and her family relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska, when her husband’s employer offered a new position. She took a break from work and politics for a time, recognizing the need to focus solely on her childrens’ schooling with two now of high school age. Distressed by many things she was witnessing on the national political scene and disillusioned about the Republican Party, she decided to start writing again, this time online. Motivated to get involved with others at the grassroots level, she networked with activists on the social media tool, Twitter. She was involved in organizing the first tea party rallies inspired by Rick Santelli’s “rant” on CNBC in February 2009. Recognizing that activism should generate on the local level, she founded Grassroots in Nebraska in March of 2009. The group’s mission is a return to Constitutional, limited government, according to its original meaning. While the group has held several tea party rallies, it’s focus is to take effective action. Among its many projects, GiN successfully coordinated testimony for the hearing of the Nebraska Sovereignty Resolution, networked with other groups to ensure a large show of public support at the hearing, and coordinated follow up support to ensure its passage in April 2010. While working to build up GiN throughout 2009, she was asked to work as writer and producer of the documentary film, A New America, which lays out how Progressivism is responsible for how America has moved away from its Constitutional roots. You can see more of her work on Grassroots in Nebraska (GiN) and StubbornFacts