In Nebraska Senate race, Republican loyalties are split

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For the past year, if you'd asked political observers to name the candidate most likely to win the Republican nomination for Nebraska Senate, the response probably would have been state attorney general Jon Bruning.

But in the last few weeks, high-profile Republicans and tea party groups have stepped into the open seat race and divided their loyalties among three top contenders, making a Bruning victory less certain. Incumbent Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson decided to retire rather than seeking a third term, creating the up-for-grabs race.

State senator Deb Fischer experienced a major surge last week, boosted by endorsements from Sarah and Todd Palin as well as from Rep. Jeff Fortenberry just days before Tuesday's primary. That's in addition to the news that AmeriTrade co-founder Joe Ricketts had made significant media buys on behalf of Fischer's campaign.

"The winds have changed," Fischer's campaign proclaimed Monday as they touted her standing in a new automated poll of likely Republican voters conducted by a group called We Ask America. Fischer placed first in that poll for the GOP nomination with 39 percent; Bruning received 34 percent and Stenberg had 19 percent.

But she's not the only candidate inching up in the race in recent weeks.

Don Stenberg, the state treasurer and former Nebraska attorney general has been making headway too. Political action committees connected to the Club for Growth, FreedomWorks, the Family Research Council, as well as Sen. Jim DeMint (who heads up the  Senate Conservative Fund) have all endorsed Stenberg, who was the party's 2000 Senate nominee against Democratic Sen. Nelson.

In a sign of the perceived viability of these challengers, Bruning is running an attack ad that hits both of his opponents: Fischer on taxes and spending; Stenberg on hiding taxpayer spending using accounting tricks. "Accounting gimmicks, higher taxes, more spending," the ad's narrator states. "That's Don Stenberg and Deb Fischer." Clearly, Bruning's camp is aware of the tightening contest.

Having entered early last year, Bruning spent much of the race as the clear frontrunner, racking up solid support and a significant fundraising advantage over his competitors. He reported raising $3.5 million through April 25, according to the Federal Election Commission, while Stenberg amassed $700,000 and Fischer pulled in less than $400,000.

Bruning briefly drew negative headlines last year for what critics said was a misleading report about an endorsement as well as for making inflammatory statements comparing welfare recipients to raccoons.

The race made odd national news again in early April when  Bruning accused Stenberg of trying to follow his 14-year-old daughter on Twitter. Stenberg blamed an aide who runs his Twitter account for the mishap.

Bruning currently boasts endorsements from Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Tea Party Express as well as from sitting members of Congress such as Sen. Lindsey Graham of Georgia and John Thune of South Dakota.

As his competitors have gained traction on his ideological right, Bruning and his supporters have been further highlighting his own conservative credentials.

"I'm Jon Bruning, and I approve this message to let Washington know conservative change is coming," goes the Bunning tag line for his campaign missives.