State Attorney General Jon Bruning, looking for the upper hand in the Republican Senate primary against establishment favorite ex-Gov. Mike Johanns, has signed Americans for Tax Reform’s “Taxpayer Protection Pledge,” agreeing never to vote to raise taxes.

Meanwhile, Johanns is set to hold a fundraiser in Omaha on Dec. 5 featuring President Bush, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Johanns recently stepped down as Bush’s Agriculture secretary to run for Senate.

Bruning and Johanns are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Chuck Hagel (R). The winner of the GOP primary will likely have an easy path to victory in the general election.
— David M. Drucker