Scott Kleeb
Encyclopedia
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 who won the Republican primary
with 39% of the vote in a field of five candidates defeated Democratic nominee Scott Kleeb
55% to 45%. This ten-point margin was the closest election in the 3rd District since 1990, prompting both candidates to receive a variety of endorsements during the race.
Approximately one-third of the funding of his campaign came from members of 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.
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 65000 square miles (168,349.2 km²), two time zones, and 68.5 of Nebraska’s 93 counties (one of which, Cherry County
, is larger than the entire state of Connecticut
). Both Smith and Kleeb raised and spend more money than any prior third district race.
As the race become more competitive than expected, it received late national attention from the House campaign committees
.
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.
In the end, Smith won by 10 percentage points, taking 55 percent of the vote to Kleeb's 45 percent.
This was the closest a Democrat had come to winning the district in 18 years; in 1990, Republican Bill Barrett
only won 51% to 49% over fellow Unicamerial state senator, Sandra K. Scofield.
In a very strong year for Democrats, the 2006 3rd District Congressional race drew last-minute attention from the national House
campaign committees
as well as a campaign visit from President George W. Bush
on Smith's behalf two days before the election.
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. After thorough investigation by the Nebraska Public Service Commission the complaint file has been closed with no wrong doing found either by the Kleeb vendor of robocalls, political candidates or their committees.
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, comprises 69 counties and is considered to be a traditional Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
stronghold. In the 2006 midterm elections, Republican incumbent Tom Osborne did not seek re-election, instead making a failed bid for the Nebraska gubernatorial
Governor of Nebraska
The Governor of Nebraska holds the "supreme executive power" of the State of Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of the Nebraska Constitution. The current Governor is Dave Heineman, a Republican, who assumed office on January 20, 2005 upon the resignation of Mike Johanns . He won a full...
nomination. In his stead, Republican Adrian Smith who won the Republican primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
with 39% of the vote in a field of five candidates defeated Democratic nominee Scott Kleeb
Scott Kleeb
' 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...
55% to 45%. This ten-point margin was the closest election in the 3rd District since 1990, prompting both candidates to receive a variety of endorsements during the race.
Approximately one-third of the funding of his campaign came from members of the Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
, 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.
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 65000 square miles (168,349.2 km²), two time zones, and 68.5 of Nebraska’s 93 counties (one of which, Cherry County
Cherry County, Nebraska
Cherry County is unusual in being split between two time zones, Mountain Time and Central Time. The lines between the two runs roughly north to south along the eastern third of the county. Cherry County is also the location of the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, the Fort Niobrara National...
, is larger than the entire state of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
). Both Smith and Kleeb raised and spend more money than any prior third district race.
As the race become more competitive than expected, it received late national attention from the House campaign committees
Hill committee
The Hill committees are the common name for the political party committees that work to elect members of their own party to United States Congress...
.
President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
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.
In the end, Smith won by 10 percentage points, taking 55 percent of the vote to Kleeb's 45 percent.
This was the closest a Democrat had come to winning the district in 18 years; in 1990, Republican Bill Barrett
Bill Barrett
William E. "Bill" Barrett is a Republican politician from Nebraska who served five terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2001 as the congressman for Nebraska's third congressional district....
only won 51% to 49% over fellow Unicamerial state senator, Sandra K. Scofield.
In a very strong year for Democrats, the 2006 3rd District Congressional race drew last-minute attention from the national House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
campaign committees
Hill committee
The Hill committees are the common name for the political party committees that work to elect members of their own party to United States Congress...
as well as a campaign visit from President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on Smith's behalf two days before the election.
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
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
claims "sabotaged" Kleeb's campaign. After thorough investigation by the Nebraska Public Service Commission the complaint file has been closed with no wrong doing found either by the Kleeb vendor of robocalls, political candidates or their committees.
External links
- Scott Kleeb's campaign site
- Adrian Smith's Campaign site
- OpenSecrets.org - Smith and Kleeb Contributions by ZIP Code campaign contributions
- OpenSecrets.org - Smith and Kleeb Contributions by In-State vs. Out-of-State campaign contributions