Neb.'s Johanns questions Senate foe's tactics
Posted: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
LINCOLN (AP) -- Republican U.S. Sen. candidate Mike Johanns questioned his Democratic opponent's campaign tactics Tuesday, citing a negative so-called push poll and a videographer who follows him around the state, "hoping I'll slip up."
At a Senate debate in front of Lincoln business leaders, Johanns said it's not the right way to run a campaign.
Democrat Scott Kleeb said after the debate that the calls aren't paid for by his campaign, nor is Lisa Hannah, who attends Johanns events and records them on behalf of the Nebraska Democratic Party.
But Johanns said Kleeb's responsible for both.
"Somebody comes in and does the dirty work for them so they can say they didn't pay for it," Johanns said in an interview after the debate. He said that if someone tried to do a push poll favorable to him, "I would call a news conference tomorrow to condemn it. I hate that stuff. It demeans the political process."
Kleeb, a Yale-educated ranch hand who teaches history, ran for the 3rd District House seat in 2006 and lost. He said the only thing he can control is his Senate campaign and that if he knew who was making the calls, he would tell them to stop.
Push polls are not scientific but are used as a campaign tool. They ask prospective voters questions, but are led with or followed by statements on an issue.
Johanns' campaign said several people have contacted them recently about the calls. John Marcucci of Kennard said he got a call from a woman who said she was from Eastern Research, which is a firm in Springfield, Pa. The firm didn't return a message seeking comment.
Push polls weren't the only hot topic at the fourth Senate debate of the general election.
Kleeb said Johanns failed Nebraskans on mental health care reform as governor, which he was before leaving to serve as U.S. agriculture secretary in 2005.
In 2004, state lawmakers passed a contentious mental health reform measure intended to phase out psychiatric hospitals in Hastings and Norfolk and replace them with community-based services across the state.
Those who opposed the plan expressed concerns about whether the state's most needy mental health patients would get the same level of service.
Kleeb said Johanns failed the state by closing the centers without proper planning.
"You don't zero out the funding for one without providing funding for the other," Kleeb said. "We are being sued because of inhumane treatment in Beatrice. This is not reform."
But Johanns said Kleeb was making "a major mistake" by mentioning the Beatrice State Developmental Center because it isn't a mental health facility.
Johanns said Beatrice, which faces a lawsuit over alleged abuses, is meant for the neediest, most developmentally disabled people who need constant care and shouldn't be confused with the mental health reform he championed.
Johanns said that thanks to his work with the Legislature, 9,000 more people are getting treatment. The reform "had nothing to do with budget cuts," Johanns said. "We increased funding dramatically."
On health care, the Green Party's Steve Larrick was the only one of the three to come out in support of a universal, single-payer health insurance system.
Kleeb said he doesn't support such a system, but instead backs public and private partnerships to bring down costs.
Johanns has said in previous debates that Kleeb supports a universal system, and Kleeb for the first time protested.
"I know you'll hear that I support universal (health care), but I don't," Kleeb said.
Larrick also was the only candidate to express opposition to drilling for oil under Alaskan land that so far is off-limits.
Kleeb said drilling "is going to be part of our future" and that Democrats don't want to talk about drilling and Republicans don't want to talk about renewable energy.
Larrick also said the deregulation of the financial industry "has been devastating to our economy."
And Johanns said the collapse of several stalwarts of the banking industry indicate a "day of reckoning."
"No more bailouts," Johanns said.
Nebraska Party candidate Kelly Renee Rosberg hasn't taken part in any of the debates for the Nov. 4 general election.
The four are running to replace Republican Chuck Hagel, who decided not to seek a third Senate term.
At a Senate debate in front of Lincoln business leaders, Johanns said it's not the right way to run a campaign.
Democrat Scott Kleeb said after the debate that the calls aren't paid for by his campaign, nor is Lisa Hannah, who attends Johanns events and records them on behalf of the Nebraska Democratic Party.
But Johanns said Kleeb's responsible for both.
"Somebody comes in and does the dirty work for them so they can say they didn't pay for it," Johanns said in an interview after the debate. He said that if someone tried to do a push poll favorable to him, "I would call a news conference tomorrow to condemn it. I hate that stuff. It demeans the political process."
Kleeb, a Yale-educated ranch hand who teaches history, ran for the 3rd District House seat in 2006 and lost. He said the only thing he can control is his Senate campaign and that if he knew who was making the calls, he would tell them to stop.
Push polls are not scientific but are used as a campaign tool. They ask prospective voters questions, but are led with or followed by statements on an issue.
Johanns' campaign said several people have contacted them recently about the calls. John Marcucci of Kennard said he got a call from a woman who said she was from Eastern Research, which is a firm in Springfield, Pa. The firm didn't return a message seeking comment.
Push polls weren't the only hot topic at the fourth Senate debate of the general election.
Kleeb said Johanns failed Nebraskans on mental health care reform as governor, which he was before leaving to serve as U.S. agriculture secretary in 2005.
In 2004, state lawmakers passed a contentious mental health reform measure intended to phase out psychiatric hospitals in Hastings and Norfolk and replace them with community-based services across the state.
Those who opposed the plan expressed concerns about whether the state's most needy mental health patients would get the same level of service.
Kleeb said Johanns failed the state by closing the centers without proper planning.
"You don't zero out the funding for one without providing funding for the other," Kleeb said. "We are being sued because of inhumane treatment in Beatrice. This is not reform."
But Johanns said Kleeb was making "a major mistake" by mentioning the Beatrice State Developmental Center because it isn't a mental health facility.
Johanns said Beatrice, which faces a lawsuit over alleged abuses, is meant for the neediest, most developmentally disabled people who need constant care and shouldn't be confused with the mental health reform he championed.
Johanns said that thanks to his work with the Legislature, 9,000 more people are getting treatment. The reform "had nothing to do with budget cuts," Johanns said. "We increased funding dramatically."
On health care, the Green Party's Steve Larrick was the only one of the three to come out in support of a universal, single-payer health insurance system.
Kleeb said he doesn't support such a system, but instead backs public and private partnerships to bring down costs.
Johanns has said in previous debates that Kleeb supports a universal system, and Kleeb for the first time protested.
"I know you'll hear that I support universal (health care), but I don't," Kleeb said.
Larrick also was the only candidate to express opposition to drilling for oil under Alaskan land that so far is off-limits.
Kleeb said drilling "is going to be part of our future" and that Democrats don't want to talk about drilling and Republicans don't want to talk about renewable energy.
Larrick also said the deregulation of the financial industry "has been devastating to our economy."
And Johanns said the collapse of several stalwarts of the banking industry indicate a "day of reckoning."
"No more bailouts," Johanns said.
Nebraska Party candidate Kelly Renee Rosberg hasn't taken part in any of the debates for the Nov. 4 general election.
The four are running to replace Republican Chuck Hagel, who decided not to seek a third Senate term.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
