As Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns (R) positions himself to enter the race to replace retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel (R), the National Republican Senatorial Committee is preparing for the possibility that former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) also might run.

The Lincoln Star Journal reported Wednesday that Johanns — a former governor — is on the verge of resigning as Agriculture secretary and preparing to move back to Nebraska to run for Senate. Meanwhile, the NRSC is readying a Web site that will attempt to highlight Kerrey’s record since retiring from the Senate in 2000.

According to a Republican source familiar with the NRSC’s plans, the Web site would highlight Kerrey’s New York voter registration — the former governor and Senator is currently president of The New School in Manhattan — and the fact that he switched his voter enrollment from Nebraska within six months of retiring from the Senate.

The site also plans to note Kerrey’s defense of disgraced Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu, who Kerrey had previously recruited to serve on The New School’s board of directors.

— David M. Drucker