A new poll suggests that Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) seriously endangered his political prospects by becoming the decisive 60th vote allowing health care legislation to pass through the Senate.
The Rasmussen survey shows Nelson, who isn’t up for re-election until 2012, badly trailing Gov. Dave Heineman by 31 points in a hypothetical matchup, 61 to 30 percent. A 55 percent majority of Nebraska voters now hold an unfavorable view of the two-term senator, with 40 percent viewing him favorably.
The health care bill is currently very unpopular in Nebraska, according to the Rasmussen poll. Nearly two-thirds of voters (64 percent) oppose the legislation while just 17 percent approve.
Heineman has attacked Nelson’s support for health care reform, even as the senator cut a deal exempting Nebraska from new Medicaid payments and other home-state goodies.
“The reason he’s in hot water right now is that he’s not listening to Nebraskans — it’s very unusual for him,” Heineman told POLITICO last week. “I am shocked.”
Heineman added that he had no plans to run for the Senate, but wouldn't rule out a future bid. - Politico Story
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