OMAHA — U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, who has largely ignored her campaign opponent until recently, called a press conference Thursday and criticized former Omaha union leader Dan Osborn as a nationally backed threat to a possible Republican majority in the Senate.
Fischer, a two-term Republican from Lincoln whose family owns a ranch near Valentine, was joined by supporters who touted her record of voting for infrastructure investments, agricultural interests and national defense, among other things.
“I worked hard to earn the trust and the support of Nebraskans,” Fischer said. “I have a record. I have a voting record. … Nebraskans right now are just finding out who my opponent is and what my opponent stands for.”
Heineman, others rally GOP base for Fischer
Longtime Fischer supporter Gov. Dave Heineman repeated the line from one of Fischer’s latest ads about Osborn — the allegation he denies that he is a supporter of Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats.
Osborn’s campaign has said Fischer is wrong, that he does not support Sanders. Osborn’s camp said he welcomed Sanders’ support for organized labor in 2021 during negotiations that Osborn led during the Kellogg’s strike in Omaha.
Heineman and Fischer said that Osborn has portrayed himself as an independent but that behind closed doors he is more likely to support Democrats and more likely to cost a GOP-leaning state its seniority and influence in the Senate.
“I’ve known Deb Fischer for years,” Heineman said. “She’s a Nebraskan you can trust. She has a conservative record. And her votes reflect Nebraska values. … Her opponent’s support comes from out-of-state Democrats to the tune of millions of dollars.”
Osborn campaign responds
Osborn’s campaign spokesman Dustin Wahl fired back, saying it’s Fischer who has been hiding her record of helping her “corporate sponsors” and breaking her promise to retire after serving two terms. He said she’s scared and spreading falsehoods.
“That’s what career politicians do, and it’s why Nebraskans are ready for someone who listens to them,” Wahl said.
Like many incumbents in Congress, most of Fischer’s fundraising has come from political action committees, or PACs, and the bulk of her PAC support has come from corporate PACs. Osborn has made a big deal of not taking corporate PAC money.
He is receiving outside help in his race from outside groups that can accept donations from corporate PACs. Both sides have made millions in advertising reservations down the stretch run of a race that has become increasingly competitive.
Osborn has criticized Fischer for siding with her party over the needs of Nebraskans. He has said Congress needs more working people in office. He is a steamfitter who took time off to run and is currently being paid out of his campaign funds.
Fischer says voters need clarity
Fischer criticized Osborn for not taking clear stands on issues Nebraskans care about, like war in the Middle East. Her campaign has been running ads this week criticizing many of his comments on issues, including supporting more health care subsidies.
She said he was wrong to discuss ending the Senate filibuster, which she says is vital to protecting minority rights. She said he needs “a civics lesson” about the risks of not picking a side in the Senate, as Osborn has hinted he might do.
Nebraska, she said, benefits from her work on major committees such as Armed Services. Fischer said no party is going to put a nonpartisan member on a committee who refuses to caucus with them.
Fischer also criticized Osborn for not saying whom he supports for president. She backs former President Donald Trump, who has endorsed her, and said Nebraskans had more money and a safer world with Trump.
Others tout Fischer’s record
Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding, a Republican, credited Fischer’s work on the bipartisan infrastructure bill that is helping bring $3 billion back to replace aging roads, bridges, broadband and airports, including Eppley Airfield.
Harding argued that Osborn’s union work strained Kellogg’s and contributed to the company’s announcement that the plant will close. The union has said its strike was not a factor in the closure and that it’s still working to save jobs.
Brenda Masek, a former president of the Nebraska Cattlemen, said Fischer, has treated Nebraska agriculture like it is the backbone of the state’s economy, because it is.
Early voting has begun. Election Day is Nov. 5.
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