Former Rep. Hal Daub (R) hopes the third time will be the charm: He announced Monday that he would seek the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel (R).

In a statement that preceded a two-day swing through the state Monday and Tuesday, Daub made it clear that he’ll emphasize his conservative credentials in pursuit of the Republican nomination.

“Nebraskans should know that I oppose an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, that I favor a tough immigration policy that emphasizes securing our borders, and that I believe there are sensible, simple ways to preserve Social Security and Medicare,” he said.

Daub, 66, who served in Congress from 1981 to 1989, is making his third Senate bid. He lost the Republican primary for an open seat in 1988 and was the GOP nominee in 1990, losing to then-Sen. Jim Exon (D). The former Congressman later spent three terms as mayor of Omaha.

Daub joins a Republican field that includes state Attorney General Jon Bruning. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, a former governor, also is seriously eyeing the race. Johanns was in Nebraska on official USDA business over the weekend but also attended a Republican gala that included naming the state GOP headquarters after him.

Democrats are awaiting word from former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) about whether he’ll seek the seat that his friend and fellow Vietnam veteran Hagel has held for the past 10 years.

— Josh Kurtz