Reported for Statewide by Brad Penner.

The Republican senate roller coaster ride glided to a stop at the Stenberg campaign party. For months candidates jumped in and out while attorney general Don Stenberg marched steadily to victory.
[Perry Pirsch] "I respect him for having the character to get in against Kerrey. He has been in the longest. I think that took a lot of courage on his part and I'm standing behind him."
[Joe Stecher] "He was in the race to be senator not just because it was an opportunity but because it was the right thing for him and for the state."
Republican voters rewarded Stenberg's perseverance with a lopsided win in Tuesday's Primary.
"We would like you to stick around to help support's Don campaign to beat Ben Nelson. So eat, drink, be merry, celebrate tonight because tomorrow we go back out on the road and we got one to win in November."
"Go, Don."
Secretary of State Scott Moore put his campaign to bed early in the evening.
[Scott Moore] "A little after 8:00 I did have the opportunity to call Don Stenberg and congratulate he and Sue."
The results disappointed Moore's supporters. State Senator Jon Bruning believes they'll back the nominee.
[Sen. Jon Bruning] "In Washington you either have to vote like a Republican or vote like a Democrat. You can't play in the middle. There is no middle in Washington. I think if people realize that, that Ben Nelson is going to have to vote with Ted Kennedy, he's going to have to vote with Barbara Boxer. They're going to want to send a Republican back and Stenberg will get those votes."
[Sen. Chuck Hagel] "Hey, Scotty. You going over to Don's?"
[Moore] "Yes, I am."
[Sen. Hagel] "If you want, you can ride with us or I will ride with you."
[Moore] "Let's ride together. That will work."
Nebraska's current Republican Senator Chuck Hagel took on the role of team captain as he brought together the top two Republican contenders.
[Moore] "We are going to do what we can to get you a partner back there anyway."
Back at the Stenberg party, Governor Mike Johanns and First Lady Stephanie Johanns warmed up the crowd.
[Sen. Hagel] "We have a Primary that's hard fought. We have a candidate that wins and then we have a party that joins forces. Every single Republican across the state."
The theme of this campaign unfolded as Senator Hagel joined Governor Johanns on stage. Former Governor Ben Nelson's political identity will be questioned over and over again.
[Sen. Hagel] "Ben wanted to be part of our party if you recall last year. He runs from his Presidential candidate Al Gore. He was chairman of Gore's Presidential committee until he gave that great privilege to my friend Bob Kerrey. A couple of months ago he ran from his President, Ben Nelson did, in 1996 so he is confused as to who he is and what he believes."
[Steve Thomlinson, Republican strategist] "I certainly don't think you can underestimate Ben Nelson but those same early polls had him leading against Chuck Hagel and we saw that on election day, Nelson lost by 14 points."
Four years ago Don Stenberg traveled from Lincoln to Omaha to congratulate Chuck Hagel on his Primary victory. Tuesday night it was Stenberg's turn in the spotlight but it's clear that he and his party are counting on Hagel to help deliver another victory.
[Don Stenberg] "In November Nebraska voters will choose between two teams to represent Nebraska in Washington. One team will be the Gore-Nelson team. The other team will be the Bush-Hagel-Stenberg team. As Senator Hagel said here tonight, he is tired of having his vote canceled out by Nebraska's other United States senator. We need two Nebraska senators who are going to head in the same direction of less government and lower taxes and stronger values."
[Sen. Hagel] "I'm incidental to it. I will help as Governor Johanns will help, as Scotty Moore will help, as all our Republican party will help, but in the end it's going to be a choice between Don Stenberg and Ben Nelson. I think that Don will make the case strongly enough so that the people of the state will understand the differences."
Nationally, the Republican party has targeted Nebraska as a state where they can gain a senate seat.
[Sen. Hagel] "But the fact is Don Stenberg is going to receive the maximum amount of support from Republican Senate Campaign Committee and that's very, very important."
On the morning after, Republican leaders gathered for a traditional unity rally. The party leaders may be unified but they must convince their members to join them. Republicans have a huge advantage in registered voters and Ben Nelson can't win without some Republican support. Their tactic appears to be simple. Remind voters as often as they can that Ben Nelson is Democrat.
[Stenberg] "If Ben Nelson was an independent he would have said no when Al Gore called and asked him to be a State chair but he said yes to Al Gore and he will say yes to Al Gore if, Lord help us, Al Gore becomes our President."

The Republican charges will not go unanswered. Bill Kelly has our report on Ben Nelson's battle plan.
With only token opposition in the Primary, this was not a night of high drama for Ben Nelson's campaign. He has the money in place already. He has the party structure behind him in an uncontested Primary. Still, four years ago he was upset. He has to consider what he needs to do to beat Don Stenberg. Traditionally, the victory speeches wait for the 10:00 news. No need for Ben Nelson to wait. His only opposition, an eccentric who never campaigned past his home in Gering. Once again, Ben Nelson would represent the Democratic party in the U.S. senate campaign.
[Ben Nelson] "As you know we began rather late in the process but we've caught up and more than that, we're ahead."
His campaign theme in a world of highly partisan politics, Nelson hopes to run without party labels.
[Nelson] "We have a great opportunity to keep this the people's seat in the state of Nebraska. It belongs to the people, not a political party. I appreciate your understanding that. Crossover voting is permissible. I think too many people have made too much out of partisan politics that they run the risk of getting people to believe it. I think people of Nebraska know better. We've got a non-partisan legislature. They're used to seeing that. I think they're probably getting tired of hearing from the other side that you've got to go back and be extremely partisan. Now let me say that it's on to November. Thank you very much."
On Primary election night, Nelson never once used the word Democrat in his speech. He says that wasn't intentional. The chair of Nebraska's Democratic party says she didn't even notice.
[Ann Boyle] "I think we all know Ben Nelson as somebody who is cautious, somebody who has a lot of common sense. He decides an issue on the merits of the issue, not on a partisanship, and that's probably healthy. Bob Kerrey does the same thing and I think Nebraskans like that."
[Nelson]"I may be the lone person at the table from the Democratic party."
Nelson had tested some quite conservative campaign themes weeks earlier. Elbow to elbow with Republican contenders at a candidates' forum, it was sometimes difficult to separate his philosophy from the most conservative voices on the panel.
[Nelson] "I know that that was a debate in the Presidential Primary on the Republican side and Governor Bush came down on, I believe, on the right side."
The issues on Ben Nelson's agenda hold no surprises. The region's lagging farm economy ranks number one.
[Nelson] "How are we going to make family farm not only a great place to live but a wonderful place to earn a living. We've got to do that. We're not going to do that the way my opponent is doing it. That's saying everything is okay, the freedom to farm act is okay."
Tell me how this is different from the last time around.
[Nelson]"I'm ahead."
Cranking out the TV live shots, interviews make this seem no difference than Nelson's winning campaigns, but the Governor has not forgotten his bitter loss to now U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel, another campaign Nelson was expected to win easily.
[Boyle] "He was the sitting governor and he this time will not be distracted by taking care of the needs of the state and at the same time trying to be a candidate for the U.S. senate."
[Nelson] "We must not allow ourselves to become complacent between now and November. It is our duty and our responsibility to work together."
If that complacency comes from the early polls, the former Governor may have reason for concern. Don Stenberg may be an underdog, but he has a strong core of conservative support and two solid election victories as attorney general. Some Republicans believe those advantages could give Stenberg a stronger start than Hagel's 1996 campaign. What does Ben Nelson need to do to beat Don Stenberg?
[Boyle] "Be Ben Nelson. Ben Nelson was a great governor and I think Nebraskans know him well."
Reaching out to the Republican vote in the Cornhusker state in this race, how important will that be...
Republicans already put Nelson on notice. They will not let the Governor who served as two terms as a Democrat run as if he were a moderate Republican. Nelson told reporters Wednesday it's a strategy he would expect from the political party with a lead in registered voters.
[Nelson] "You're going to try to scare the people who are registered in your party. They may not be active but registered in your party. Try to scare those people about the other side."
Touring the state the day after he became the Democratic nominee, there was a conspicuous absence of Democrats.
[Nelson] "I'm not flanked by a lot of people from a political party as I go around the state. I don't need it. That's probably one of the best indications that I am an independent voice."
As the campaign begins, that will be Ben Nelson's most daunting challenge-- attracting registered Republicans while not causing loyal Democrats to be disillusioned and less than enthusiastic. For Statewide, I'm Bill Kelly.

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Captioning by Nebraska Captioning Center, Lincoln, Nebraska .