Sen. Ben Nelson retiring, dealing blow to Dems

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska said Tuesday he will retire rather than seek a third term next year, dealing a significant setback to Democratic efforts to maintain control of the chamber.

The 70-year-old conservative Democrat, whose seat is being heavily targeted by Republicans in 2012, said in a statement that "while I relish the opportunity to undertake the work that lies ahead, I also feel it's time for me to step away from elective office, spend more time with my family, and look for new ways to serve our state and nation."

"Therefore, I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election," he said. "Simply put: It is time to move on."

Republicans, who need to net four seats to take back the Senate next year, say Nebraska has tilted further to the right in recent years and have made Nelson's seat a 2012 priority. Nelson is the lone Democrat among the state's five-member congressional delegation, and Republicans think his vote for President Barack Obama's signature health care legislation would have weighed him down.

Nelson still could have given Democrats a fighting chance. A two-term governor before winning a Senate seat, he has shown an ability to rebound after being down in previous statewide races.

But he's recently expressed dismay about a divided Congress' inability to pass meaningful legislation, frustration that echoed in the Tuesday statement in which he said public office is "about promoting the common good, not the agenda of the radical right or the radical left."

"I encourage those who will follow in my footsteps to look for common ground and to work together in bipartisan ways to do what's best for the country, not just one political party," he said.

Even as Nelson wavered about whether to seek another term, he piled up campaign cash, hired a campaign manager and watched his party spend more than $1 million on ads supporting him. Prominent Nebraska Democrats said they were shocked by his announcement Tuesday and concerned about who they might field against the Republican nominee.

"I'm absolutely stunned," said Kathleen Fahey, a Democratic super-delegate in 2008. "Ben has been such a great senator for everybody. I'm not liking this."

The campaign preparation had left Nelson with a healthy cash advantage. He had more than $3 million cash on hand last month, about twice his nearest competitor, and had the luxury of stockpiling money while Republicans focused on a crowded primary.

Nelson's retirement likely will drag the GOP race even further to the right, said University of Nebraska Lincoln political scientist Mark Wagner.

"Whoever wins the primary is likely to be the senator from Nebraska for as long as they want," Wagner said.

The GOP ticket includes Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, state Treasurer Don Stenberg, state Sen. Deb Fischer, and investment adviser Pat Flynn.

Bruning on Tuesday wished Nelson well and praised him as "a dedicated public servant of the state of Nebraska for over two decades," while Fischer expressed confidence the GOP would now claim the seat.

"I think we have a strong group of Republicans, and I happen to believe the seat will go to a Republican," Fischer said.

Nelson first was elected to the Senate in 2000, defeating Republican contender Stenberg to replace the retired Bob Kerrey. His centrist stance helped him get re-elected over the years even as already-conservative Nebraska became even more dominated by Republicans.

"In one respect, he certainly deserves to have some time away from the political scene," said Democratic super-delegate Steve Achelpohl. "But on the other hand, it certainly is going to leave a void."

He was one of only two Senate Democrats to support a failed GOP bid to block new federal controls on power plant pollution that blows downwind into other states. And he took great pride in his membership in the 2005 "Gang of 14," made up of Republicans and Democrats who brokered a deal to avoid a filibuster showdown over President George W. Bush's judicial nominees.

However, Nelson's vote in favor of Obama's signature health reform measure left the GOP confident they could beat the Democrat next year. The health reforms are strongly opposed by many Nebraska conservatives, and after the vote Nebraska Republicans immediately kicked off a "Give Ben the Boot" campaign.

"For once Senator Nelson has listened to Nebraskans," Nebraska Republican Party Chairman Mark Fahleson said Tuesday. "The Nebraska Republican Party is more focused than ever on electing another conservative Republican to join Sen. Mike Johanns and recapturing the U.S. Senate so that we can reverse the damage done by Ben Nelson, Washington Democrats and the Obama Administration."

Nelson upset incumbent Nebraska Gov. Kay Orr in 1990 to earn his first statewide office and was re-elected in 1994 by a landslide. In 1996, he reneged on a campaign pledge that he would not seek higher office while governor and announced his candidacy for the Senate seat vacated by the retiring Gov. Jim Exon.

Omaha millionaire businessman Chuck Hagel soundly defeated Nelson in that Senate race. The two later served as colleagues when Nelson was elected in 2000.

Obama on Tuesday issued a statement thanking Nelson for his public service.

"Over the course of his career, Ben's commitment to working with both Democrats and Republicans across a broad range of issues is a trait far too often overlooked in today's politics," the president said.