By Kim Carpenter, Special to KIOS
Omaha, NE – The last time that Nebraska's candidates for the U.S. Senate met, they came out swinging. During their first debate in August, Democrat Ben Nelson and Republican challenger Pete Ricketts gave their views on everything from taxation to immigration reform. With the Nebraska seat potentially being a pivotal one in the Senate, the second political debate between Ricketts and Nelson takes on added importance for all Nebraskans. KIOS 91.5 is pleased to air the Live Broadcast of the Nelson-Ricketts Debate this Sunday, September 10, at 6:00 p.m. Listeners can tune their radios to KIOS, or they can stream the broadcast directly from the KIOS web site. KIOS is simulcasting this one-hour, commercial-free event in cooperation with KETV, Channel 7, Omaha's ABC affiliate.
The debate, which is sponsored by the Omaha Press Club and KETV, will be moderated by KETV anchors Rob McCartney and Julie Cornell, and questions will be prepared by the Education Committee of the Omaha Press Club. The importance of the live debate cannot be overstated: this is one of the most hotly contested elections in recent Nebraska history. While Nelson has the advantage of being an incumbent with a long political career, business executive Ricketts is launching a full-out media campaign that is giving the current Senator a run for his money.
Moreover, this election has not only far-reaching political implications for Nebraska, but for the nation as well. Political analysts predict that Republican senators in Montana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are in danger of losing their seats. This would seriously erode the GOP's current fifty-five-seat Senate majority, and Republican strategists are watching the Nebraska Senate race very closely.
For these reasons, the live debate between Nelson and Ricketts is not to be missed: Tune into KIOS this Sunday and catch one of the most important debates before the November 7th election.