The Omaha World Herald is only speculating of course. Not to mention, as many major newspapers do, they tip heavily to the left. They’d love nothing more than Bob Kerrey winning the upcoming open Senate seat.

I personally like Johanns because he’s a classy guy. I lived in Nebraska during one of his terms as governor and also when he was mayor of Lincoln. He’s anti-gay marriage (is that the politically correct way to phrase that? I forget) and staunchly pro-life. Unlike Kerrey who is an avid fan of partial birth abortion. Oh, I’m sure Kerrey is personally against partial birth abortion, but just doesn’t want to take away anyone else’s right to stab a defenseless newborn in the back of the head and suck out its brains. You know those hypocritical demonRats.

Let’s take a look at how the Omaha World Herald summarizes both men’s strengths and weaknesses:
We’ll start with Johanns:

MIKE JOHANNS’ STRENGTHS

MR. NICE GUY
He may lack the “wow” factor, but Nebraskans like mild-mannered Mike. He’s just like us. And, after several years of U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel roiling the GOP waters with criticism of President Bush, Nebraskans may be ready for the steady and low-key style of Johanns.

THE POWER OF ‘R’
He’s a Republican and he is running in Nebraska. What more is there to say? Ahhh, not much.

BOOT CAMP
Johanns has spent the past two years in the cutthroat world of Washington politics. It’s safe to say he’s learned some new political tricks and would return home with a hefty Rolodex that would come in handy when he dials for dollars. His White House connections won’t hurt, either, when he solicits the national party to inject big bucks into his race.

WINNING HISTORY
As a little-known Lincoln mayor, Johanns played the grown-up in a three-way GOP governor primary in 1998. Johanns let then-heavyweights Jon Christensen and John Breslow pummel each other in that race and walked away with the nomination. Four years later, he thrashed Democrat Stormy Dean, winning re-election with a 42-point spread.

And Kerrey’s strengths:

BOB KERREY’S STRENGTHS

CHARISMA
He may be older and grayer, but Kerrey still has “it” - that special quality that all the political consultants and campaign contributions in the world can’t buy or create. When Rockin’ Bob walks into a room, all eyes follow.

RIDE THE TIDE
Nebraska is not California, but the state is not immune from the Democratic wave that seems to be building nationally. Fatigue with the Iraq war and President Bush may energize Democrats next fall, offsetting the GOP’s voter registration advantage in Nebraska.

WINNING HISTORY
Kerrey has been tested under fire, and we’re talking on the political battlefield. The Vietnam War veteran came out of nowhere in 1982 and, in a tough fight for governor, outmaneuvered incumbent Republican Charles Thone. He and his favorite political guru, Paul Johnson, are veterans of two Senate races. Johnson also is the man who helped Democrat Ben Nelson overrun Republican Pete Ricketts last year.

Vulnerabilities of both:

BOB KERREY’S VULNERABILITIES

Kerrey who?: Kerrey may be a superstar to many Democrats, but it’s been 13 years since his name was on a Nebraska ballot. That means a bunch of Nebraskans have come of age without marking an “X” next to Kerrey’s name. He needs to limber up his arm and start shaking hands.

Newww Yorrrk City: Kerrey is a born-and-bred Nebraskan, but he’s lived the past six years in New York. Kerrey must convince Nebraskans he’s still one of us and that he’s not rediscovering his roots just to return to the Senate.

Senate record: Republicans are already combing through Kerrey’s record as senator and governor for material for television attack ads. His opposition to a “partial-birth” abortion ban in the Senate and his opposition to a same-sex marriage ban in Nebraska in 2000 offer them plenty of material.

The numbers: Nebraska has changed since Kerrey last won an election in 1994. It’s gotten redder than all the red power ties in Washington, D.C. The last time Kerrey ran, Democrats were outnumbered by 90,000 registered voters. Today, the GOP advantage in Nebraska is 202,000.

MIKE JOHANNS’ VULNERABILITIES

Bush’s yoke: After Johanns’ time as President Bush’s agriculture secretary, opponents will attempt to tie the president and his unpopular programs around Johanns’ neck. Bush’s guest worker program for illegal immigrants will become Johanns’ to defend. As will the cuts to agriculture programs that Johanns has pushed during his ag secretary tenure.

Goodbye, Mr. President: Timing is a big problem for Johanns. The farm bill - his signature task as agriculture secretary - will not be completed for months. Johanns may have to resign before it is passed, if he wants to run. That would leave him open to criticism he left Washington before he got the job done.

Unfinished business: Johanns has a history of leaving political jobs early. He resigned as Lincoln mayor in 1998 to become governor. He resigned as governor in 2005 to become agriculture secretary. And he’d have to resign as ag secretary this time. You write the advertisement for this one.

Belly fire: It could be argued Johanns has never been in a bruising, down-and-muddy campaign. Does he have the fire in the belly for two bruising battles? He must first win a primary against three Republicans that promises to be . . . let’s just say spirited. If he survives that, he will quickly have to reload the war chest and stoke the belly for a possible Kerrey match.

Either way, it should be an interesting primary in Nebraska and I like to believe that they’ll send a Republican. Although, Nebraska is one of those rural states with good old fashioned common sense, we still have to keep in mind the demonRat leaning tendencies of Lincoln and Omaha. Unfortunately, much of the state’s population rests within these cities.