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    • Fischer attacks Osborn as a threat to the Republican Party’s quest for control of the Senate. •Nebraska Examiner
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    Fischer attacks Osborn as a threat to the Republican Party’s quest for control of the Senate. •Nebraska Examiner

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    OMAHA — U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, who until recently largely ignored her campaign opponent, called a news 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 farm near Valentine, was joined by supporters who praised her voting record on infrastructure investments, agricultural interests and national defense, among other things.

    “I have worked hard to earn the trust and support of Nebraskans,” Fischer said. “I have a record. I have a voting record. … Nebraskans just found out who my opponent is and what my opponent stands for.”

    Dan Osborn, nonpartisan

    Heineman and others are rallying the GOP base for Fischer

    Gov. Dave Heineman, a longtime Fischer supporter, repeated the line from one of Fischer’s last ads about Osborn — the claim that he denies being a supporter of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.

    Former Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman campaigns on behalf of U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Thursday, Oct. 3, in Omaha. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

    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 Osborn led during the Kellogg’s strike in Omaha.

    Heineman and Fischer said Osborn has portrayed himself as an independent, but behind closed doors he is more likely to support Democrats and a Republican-leaning state will cost him his seniority and influence in the Senate.

    “I have known Deb Fischer for years,” says Heineman. “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.”

    U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb.

    Osborn campaign responds

    Osborn’s campaign spokesman Dustin Wahl fired back, saying it is Fischer who has hidden her record of helping her “corporate sponsors” and breaking her promise to retire after two terms. He said she is scared and spreading falsehoods.

    Nebraska U.S. Senate candidate Dan Osborn speaks during a news conference Tuesday in his garage in the Chalco Hills area. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

    “That’s what career politicians do, and that’s why the people of Nebraska are ready for someone to listen to them,” Wahl said.

    Like many incumbents in Congress, most of Fischer’s fundraising comes from political action committees, or PACs, and most of her PAC support comes from corporate PACs. Osborn has made a point of not taking corporate PAC money.

    He is getting outside help in his race from outside groups that can accept donations from corporate PACs. Both sides have made millions in ad bookings over the course of an increasingly competitive race.

    Osborn has criticized Fischer for siding with her party over the needs of Nebraskans. He has said Congress needs more working people. He is a steam fitter who has taken time off to run and is currently being paid from his campaign funds.

    Fischer says voters need clarity

    Fischer criticized Osborn for not taking clear positions on issues Nebraskans care about, such as the war in the Middle East. Her campaign ran ads this week criticizing many of his comments on issues, including supporting more health care subsidies.

    She said he was wrong to talk about ending the filibuster in the Senate, which she said is essential to protecting minority rights. She said he needs “a civic lesson” about the risks of not taking sides in the Senate, as Osborn has hinted he might do.

    Nebraska, she said, benefits from her work on major committees like the Armed Services. Fischer said no party will put an impartial member on a committee who refuses to cooperate with them.

    Fischer also criticized Osborn for not saying who he supports for president. She supports former President Donald Trump, who endorsed her, and said Nebraskans had more money and a safer world with Trump.

    Others praise Fischer’s record

    Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding, a Republican, praised Fischer’s work on the bipartisan infrastructure bill that will help bring back $3 billion to replace aging roads, bridges, broadband and airports, including Eppley Airfield.

    Harding argued that Osborn’s union work put pressure on Kellogg’s and contributed to the company’s announcement that the plant will close. The union has said the strike was not a factor in the closure and that it is still working to save jobs.

    Brenda Masek, former president of the Nebraska Cattlemen, said Fischer treated Nebraska agriculture as if it were the backbone of the state’s economy, because it is.

    Early voting has begun. Election day is November 5.

    GET THE MORNING CREDITS.

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