October 20, 2009 09:02 PM UTC

Senator David K. Karnes

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• by: MtSherman

Have you ever heard of him? Senator David K. Karnes of Nebraska was the Republican appointee to fill out the rest of Senator Edward Zorinsky’s term when he died in 1987. He was an unexpected appointment as he had never held elective office before being appointed by Governor Kay A. Orr.

Initially everything seemed to be lining up for the Senator, he was given a seat on the powerful United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, a coup for a very junior appointed senator. His fund raising seemed quite good getting up to $1,225,682, quite a sum for 1988 Source.  His opponent, former Governor Bob Kerrey raised $126,666 less and along with a somewhat Republican tilt to the state his path to a long term in the Senate seemed clear in a year when Republicans would again capture the White House and Nebraska’s electoral votes.

But former Senator Karnes made a critical flub in his lone debate against his opponent. He said, “we need fewer farmers at this point in time.” Kerrey won 57% to 42%. Was it just misspeaking at a critical time or was it also being inexperienced in running campaigns for political office? Was the mistake a symptom of that inexperience?

Whatever the case it is a cautionary tale for Democrats who say that Sen. Bennet is a sure bet and is the stronger candidate for the Democratic party.