Novak reports on Nelson and Ricketts
Sen. Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat seeking re-election in the overwhelmingly Republican state of Nebraska and a leading GOP target next year, is shown by a Republican poll to enjoy a very high approval rating.
The survey taken by the Braynard Group shows 71 percent job approval for Nelson, compared with 59 percent for his Republican colleague, Sen. Chuck Hagel. President Bush's rating is 64 percent, one of his highest in the country. Nelson previously had been considered one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents.
Nelson had $2.6 million in campaign cash on hand at the end of September. That's eight times as much as his Republican challenger, Ameritrade heir Pete Ricketts, and probably enough to buy most of the state's air time for the full '06 campaign.
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