Former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and former Clinton White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles “are supporting Bob Kerrey because he has told Nebraskans the honest truth about the critical necessity of assuring the 75 year solvency of the Social Security system, and stabilizing Medicare and Medicaid in a way that preserves and strengthens the needed protections for seniors and the most vulnerable in our society,” Simpson said in a statement released by the Kerrey campaign.

Simpson and Bowles led a commission of 18 members charged with devising a bipartisan deficit reduction proposal by December 2010. The proposal, which called for at least a $4 trillion cut in the deficit over 10 years by tackling entitlements, spending and tax policy, has been hailed by many lawmakers. But Congress never got a chance to consider it because the commission fell short of the 14 votes needed to send it to the Hill.

Both Simpson and Bowles have continued to push for action on the deficit. Kerrey also touted endorsements from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and former Sen. Warren Rudman (R-N.H.), who helped craft the budget agreement in the 1980s known as the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act.

Kerrey is the underdog in the Senate contest, which Roll Call rates as Likely Republican.