LINCOLN — The biggest differences between the Republican candidates for U.S. Senate in Nebraska have less to do with policy than personal background.
That was on full display again Tuesday when four GOP contenders wooed Lincoln's business community.
All agreed that President Obama's health care law needed to be repealed and that government regulations needed to be reduced.
It was on background and experience where the candidates tried to differentiate themselves at a noon forum sponsored by the influential Lincoln Independent Business Association.
State Sen. Deb Fischer, State Treasurer Don Stenberg, Attorney General Jon Bruning and Schuyler financial adviser Pat Flynn are running for the seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson.
Nelson announced about two months ago that he would not run for re-election.
Fischer argued she was the only candidate in the field who was not a “career politician.” A rancher from Valentine, Fischer has served two terms in the Nebraska Legislature, where she said she has been told she does a “good job.”
Fischer was instrumental in getting a major roads bills passed in the Nebraska Legislature last year. The law requires the state to divert some of its sales tax revenue — a quarter of one cent — toward improving the state's highway system over the next 20 years.
Fischer said she'd work just as hard in the U.S. Senate.
“We can't count on these same politicians to give us anything different. That's why we're in the mess we're in,” said Fischer.
Stenberg argued he was the race's “true conservative,” with a proven track record of cutting budgets and fighting federal bureaucrats. Stenberg served three terms as attorney general before he was elected State Treasurer.
If elected to the Senate, Stenberg said he would work to roll back rules and regulations adopted by the Obama administration and get rid of the nation's Energy and Education Departments.
“We need a full-time U.S. senator who is committed to public office,” said Stenberg.
Bruning argued that he, too, has proven his ability to fight the federal government, noting that he has sued the Environmental Protection Agency more than 20 times as attorney general.
If elected, Bruning said he would continue to work to get the federal government “out of the way” of business people.
“You know I'm not scared. I'm not a guy who goes along to get along,” said Bruning.
Flynn's argument was simple: He says he is the only small-business man in the race who has never held public office.
If elected, Flynn said he would work to slash the federal budget by 30 percent.
“The fact is we've tried all the career politicians, and the fact is, it doesn't work,” said Flynn.
The primary is May 15.
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