Nebraska's 3rd congressional district election, 2006

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Nebraska's 3rd congressional district covers most of western Nebraska, comprises 69 counties and is considered to be a traditional Republican stronghold. In the 2006 midterm elections, Republican incumbent Tom Osborne did not seek re-election, instead making a failed bid for the Nebraska gubernatorial nomination. In his stead, Republican Adrian Smith defeated Democratic nominee Scott Kleeb 55% to 45%. This ten-point margin was the closest election in the 3rd District since 1972, prompting both candidates to receive a variety of endorsements during the race. Smith won the Republican primary with 39% of the vote in a field of five candidates. He faced Democrat Scott Kleeb, a ranch hand and Yale graduate, in the general election.

Approximately one-third of the funding of his campaign came from the Club for Growth, an economic conservative group that supports tax cuts, limited government, and school choice, and advocates eliminating all agricultural subsidies and the elimination of the US Department of Agriculture.[1]

For a time, Smith was presumed to be a prohibitive favorite in this overwhelmingly Republican district. The 3rd is one of the most Republican districts in the nation; presidential and statewide candidates routinely win it with 70 percent or more of the vote. The 3rd is extremely difficult to campaign in and has few unifying influences. It covers nearly 65,000 square miles, two time zones, and 68.5 of Nebraska’s 93 counties (one of which, Cherry County, is larger than the entire state of Connecticut). However, Kleeb raised more money than any Democrat had raised in the district in decades.

As the race become more competitive than expected, it received late national attention from the House campaign committees. [2] [3]

President George W. Bush also made an appearance in the district two days before the election to campaign for Smith--a sign that the national party was very concerned about its chances in what had long been presumed to be a very safe Republican seat. [4]

In the end, Smith won by 10 percentage points, taking 55 percent of the vote to Kleeb's 45 percent. [5] This was the closest a Democrat had come to winning the district in 32 years; in 1974, Republican Virginia Smith (no relation) only won reelection by 737 votes. [6] [7] [8] In a very strong year for Democrats, the 2006 3rd District Congressional race drew last-minute attention from the national House campaign committees [9] [10] as well as a campaign visit from President George W. Bush on Smith's behalf two days before the election. [11] Toward the end of the campaign, controversy surrounded a series of automated telephone calls to voters. These calls used an unauthorized recording of Kleeb's voice which allegedly distorted his views, and were often made in the middle of the night. Investigations are currently pending to determine the source of these calls, which The New York Times claims "sabotaged" Kleeb's campaign. [12]

[edit] External links

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ O'Hanlon, Kevin. "Moul gives Fortenberry run in fundraising", Lincoln Journal Star, October 16, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-02. 
  2. ^ Walton, Don. "GOP eye on 3rd District House race", Lincoln Journal Star, October 27, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-10. 
  3. ^ Levinson, Nathan. "Neb. Roundup: Bush Visit Points to GOP Vulnerability", New York Times, November 3, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-10. 
  4. ^ Thompson, Jake; Robynn Tysver. "Bush rallies GOP faithful in Grand Island", Omaha World-Herald, November 5, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-10. 
  5. ^ Hendee, David; Paul Hammel. "Another Smith going to Washington", Omaha World-Herald, November 9, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-10. 
  6. ^ "Kleeb for 3rd district", Omaha World-Herald, October 15, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-16. 
  7. ^ "Kleeb for Congress in 3rd District", Lincoln Journal Star, November 5, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-05. 
  8. ^ Reutter, Harold. "State senators endorse Smith at press conference", Grand Island Independent, October 31, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-31. 
  9. ^ Walton, Don. "GOP eye on 3rd District House race", Lincoln Journal Star, October 27, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-10. 
  10. ^ Levinson, Nathan. "Neb. Roundup: Bush Visit Points to GOP Vulnerability", New York Times, November 3, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-10. 
  11. ^ Thompson, Jake; Robynn Tysver. "Bush rallies GOP faithful in Grand Island", Omaha World-Herald, November 5, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-10. 
  12. ^ Saulny, Susan. "Limits Sought on ‘Robocalls’ in Campaigns", The New York Times, April 25, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-04-25.