State of Nebraska Archives: on Principles & Values

Bob Krist: Reputation for being a pragmatic, fair conservative

Don Bacon: Priorities: be a good Christian, husband, father and citizen

Bacon: I am a Christian saved by faith and His grace. My priorities in life are to be a good Christian, husband, father and citizen. I start each day by reading a chapter from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. My favorite verses are Matthew 6:19-20, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Q: What in the nature of mankind caused America's Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?

Bacon: Our Founders feared the thirst for power would result in tyranny if the Constitution was not carefully crafted. That is why we are not a "pure democracy".

Don Bacon: I was raised reading National Review and Human Events

Bacon: Very Conservative

Q: Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.

Bacon: My parents and four grandparents were Goldwater fans and I was raised reading National Review and Human Events. I campaigned for local Republicans growing up and was a supporter of Ronald Reagan in 1976 when I was 13 years old. I was an active College Republican and interned after college with Congressman Ed Madigan. I'm a member of Heritage Foundation, and endorsed by the Concerned Women for America PAC. I have written many editorials supporting conservative policies and candidates that are public record. I volunteer or donate to the following organizations: Assure and Essential Pregnancy Services, Good News Jail Ministry, Gideons, Youth for Christ, CRU, and am a Central Committee member of our County Republican Party.

Shane Osborn: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework

Osborn: Strongly Agree.

Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Osborn: Strongly Agree.

Ben Sasse: Endorsed by Freedom Works' founder & other Tea Party groups

Armey, who recently left the chairmanship of Freedom Works after an internal struggle, said: "We don't need career politicians running because this is just the next rung on the ladder for them."

Sasse previously pocketed endorsements from two conservative national organizations, the Senate Conservatives Fund and the Club for Growth. All three political action groups espouse conservative principles closely tied to the views of tea party advocates.

Shane Osborn: Endorsed by Tea Party-oriented group, Freedom Works

Sasse previously pocketed endorsements from two conservative national organizations, the Senate Conservatives Fund and the Club for Growth. All three political action groups espouse conservative principles closely tied to the views of tea party advocates.

The competing endorsements continued to focus the 2014 Senate spotlight on Sasse and Osborn in a Republican contest that has attracted four candidates.

Deb Fischer: Ran underdog primary campaign on shoestring budget

But a series of last-minute surveys shows Fischer surging despite her shoestring campaign and millions of dollars in ads that Bruning, Stenberg and their allies have aired. "Nebraska's got a pretty good record of supporting underdogs. [Sen.] Mike Johanns [R-Neb.] was an underdog," Fischer told The Hill.

The winner of Tuesday's primary will face former Sen. Bob Kerrey (Neb.), who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Deb Fischer: Do Nebraskans want more career politician in Washington?

"It's going to come down to: Do Nebraskans want to send the same type of career politician back to Washington?" said Fischer. "Jon seems to be particularly establishment. I'm running a grassroots campaign."

Deb Fischer: TV ad: "End the political bull"

She described the ad as "cute" and as an example of Sand Hills humor.

Bruning's campaign manager called it negative campaigning.

Don Stenberg: Our country's going in the wrong direction

"Our country's going in the wrong direction," Stenberg said in his opening remarks. "We desperately need new leadership in Washington to restore America."

Don Stenberg: Most campaign funds come from South Carolina PAC

Stenberg reiterated criticisms he's aimed at Bruning throughout the campaign: That Bruning has become a multimillionaire while serving in public office and that in 2007, Bruning attempted to waive a $1 million settlement with Lincoln-based student loan company Nelnet.

In response, Bruning declared he would not "throw mud" at his opponents, then said "South Carolina has two senators ... they don't need a third," implying that Stenberg would be beholden to South Carolina's Sen. Jim DeMint, a tea party leader who has endorsed Stenberg. The bulk of Stenberg's fundraising for his Senate campaign has come from the Senate Conservatives Fund, a political action committee run by DeMint.

Jon Bruning: OpEd: Became multimillionaire while serving in public office

Stenberg reiterated criticisms he's aimed at Bruning throughout the campaign: That Bruning has become a multimillionaire while serving in public office and that in 2007, Bruning attempted to waive a $1 million settlement with Lincoln-based student loan company Nelnet after the company was accused of improper business practices. A year later, Bruning entered a time-share agreement on a nearly $700,000 vacation home with two Nelnet executives.

In response, Bruning declared he would not "throw mud" at his opponents, then said "South Carolina has two senators... they don't need a third," implying that Stenberg would be beholden to South Carolina's Sen. Jim DeMint, a tea party leader who has endorsed Stenberg.

Pat Flynn: Endorsed by Republican Liberty Caucus

Flynn has raised less money than the other candidates but has garnered national endorsements, including those from the Republican Liberty Caucus and former Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.

Pat Flynn: I'm the only candidate who is not a "career politician"

Welch, who voted for President Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary election, said he has gone to "painstaking lengths" to be clear about his political history. He renounced his support of Obama.

Mike Johanns: Focus on small towns

“Focus on your small towns--I did it as governor; I did it as secretary,” Johanns said.

Scott Kleeb: Always keep Nebraska’s interest first

“Focus on your small towns--I did it as governor; I did it as secretary,” Johanns said.

Steven Larrick: Healthy world relations; healthy planet; healthy Americans

My top three legislative priorities are designed to bring greater health to all levels of our lives. We need to create:
1. HEALTHY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS by ending the Iraq war and supporting the United Nations and others to bring peace around the world;
2. A HEALTHY PLANET by strengthening supports for energy conservation, renewable energy from wind, solar and other clean sources and public transportation; and
3. HEALTHY AMERICANS by establishing a universal single-payer healthcare system for all using the best management practices from other nations with better, less expensive health outcomes.

Mike Johanns: Priorities: tax relief, education, family