I made a video last weekend featuring some Nebraskan voices that I'd like to share with you now.

These are real Nebraskans expressing their support for Scott in their own words:

If you support the 50 State Strategy, I don't think I need to tell you that these Nebraskans are counting on you...

Working on Scott Kleeb's Senate campaign in Nebraska can sure be a work out! It's hard to keep up with Scott sometimes...

Here's a video I made explaining why:

Tomorrow night, as Nebraskan families sit down to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, my campaign is going to launch the first ad of the Senate general election cycle in homes across the state.

Significantly, we are going up on TV before my opponent. We will have the airwaves to ourselves, and we've crafted an ad to take advantage of the moment. This ad, called "Future," will introduce me to Nebraskans as a father and a candidate for United States Senate...

So with about three months to go, with Ted Stevens' indictment dominating the Senate news, it's time for another look at all the 2008 Senate races.  There are 35 seats up for election because of a scenario in Wyoming and Mississippi where both seats are up, due to the passing of Craig Thomas and the resignation of Trent Lott, respectively.  Now obviously, quite a few of the races are considered "safe" for the incumbent.  So what are the competitive races?

I'll rank these in terms of tiers.  The top tier will be the races where the party holding the seat has a real shot of switching (but I ain't guaranteeing anything).  The second tier are races that could become top tier races, but are not at this point.  Tier III are ones where a major event would need to happen for the seat to come into play.  And the safe seats?  Well, Mike Gravel has a better shot at winning the presidency than those incumbents have of losing their races.

This is meant to be a primer for both newcomers and political junkies alike, so some of the information may seem repetitive for you junkies out there.  Also see my previous May diary to see what things have changed since my last update.

Before you read anything else I have to say tonight, I'd like to invite you to take five minutes to watch a video:

This video says what I can't always find the words for myself: that this campaign is about something much bigger than just me or my opponent.  It's about the people we've met and the communities we've visited over these last several months.

The people of Nebraska are the heart and soul of our campaign.

Dear Friends,

Incredible, simply incredible.  What we thought would take us a week turned out to take only a weekend.  We're happy to announce that due to the overwhelming response to our "Picture is Worth a Million Dollars" challenge, our campaign has now raised over one million dollars since February.

Help us keep the momentum growing!  Will you donate $35 to Scott Kleeb for Senate today?

For all that you've done to help us in that effort, I can only say: thank you.

Greetings from Austin Texas!

Some of you may recognize my new screen name already, others might need a hint...(most of you know me as "k/o.")

I'm here at Netroots Nation in Austin, Texas in my new role working to elect Scott Kleeb for United States Senate in Nebraska. And, yep, this is the handle I'll be using as I tell you about Scott's campaign to give Nebraskans a vote for change this November.

Please add me to your hotlist and read on!

Dear Friends,

When I heard that we were closing in on our first million dollars raised, I started thinking about all the thousands of Nebraskans who have opened their homes and their hearts to this campaign.  And honestly, I just couldn't think of a way to say "thank you" enough.  So to mark this significant milestone, I've decided to offer a little something special to the donor who pushes us past the million dollar mark.

Please, join our community of supporters and contribute $500, $250, $100, or $25 today.

Hey there, this is Scott Kleeb's world-famous bodyman Kevin "Cheese" Bieging, here to provide you the thrilling conclusion to our four-day Panhandle Progress Tour here in Western Nebraska (make sure to check out part 1, part 2 and part 3).

First of all, I'd just like to apologize for the delay.  We had a big day yesterday, with news coming out that we outraised our opponent Mike Johanns for the second fundraising quarter.  The momentum for Scott Kleeb is building.  I know because I've seen it firsthand.

Every State. Every race. Right here.

This is number 23 in a planned series of 50 entries between now and November, looking at each of the 50 states in terms of every race on that state's ticket--Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate, House, State legislatures--the whole ear of corn. Special attention paid to identifying and promoting the most important contests per state.

This time, we look at NEBRASKA!

Dear Friends,

I wanted you to be the first to hear the good news: thanks to your contributions, our grassroots campaign has managed to shatter expectations and outraise our opponent, a former two-term Governor and Bush Cabinet member, for the most recent fundraising quarter. Make no mistakes about it - change is in the air here in Nebraska.

The Journal Star reports: "Democratic Senate candidate Scott Kleeb seems to be finding fundraising traction in this heavily Republican state, bringing in nearly $700,000 in the latest reporting period and besting Republican Mike Johanns for the first time."

For those of you just tuning in, this is Kevin "Cheese" Bieging, Scott Kleeb's very own personal body man, reporting to you live from the road out here in Western Nebraska.  

Yesterday was day three of our four day, fifteen event Panhandle Progress Tour (make sure to check out part 1 and part 2), and this time our travels brought us to the Oregon Trail Days celebration in Scottsbluff/Gering.  No sight-seeing today, just some good 'ole-fashion retail politics, with Scott making a lot of new friends and seeing a lot of familiar faces as well.

For those of you who missed our adventures last time, my name is Kevin "Cheese" Bieging, Scott Kleeb's "body man" extraordinaire, and yes that's me standing in front of the world famous Carhenge in Alliance, NE.

Now I know some of you may be wondering: just who is that guy, and what is he doing posing for a picture in front of one of the world's most beautiful monuments to one of America's most beautiful inventions?  Well, it's a long story, but it all starts with our four day, fifteen event Panhandle Progress Tour.  Yesterday was day two, as we continued to blaze our trail west and reach out to voters from all different backgrounds, communities and perspectives.

Read coverage of our tour in the Sidney Sun Telegraph

My name is Kevin Bieging, but the rest of the Kleeb Crew calls me "cheese."  I like to think that's because I'm originally from Wisconsin, but I'm sure that there's more to the story.

I'm Scott Kleeb's "body man," which means it's my job to follow Scott around the state, make sure he keeps to his schedule, and remember all the little details so he doesn't have to.  It's a great job, though it is a bit exhausting.  Scott keeps up quite the busy schedule these days.

Normally I do the driving, but right now one of our other staff members is taking over so that I can tell you about all the great things we're doing in the field.    Yesterday was the first day of our four-day, fifteen event Panhandle Progress Tour, which means we've been even busier than usual.  Thank goodness for black coffee...

My husband Scott Kleeb is running for the United States Senate. He has a committed staff of young people who work 12 hour days, 7 days a week. So we decided to take them up to the ranch to relax, Scott on the other hand has a different way of describing the weekend. Come meet two of the Kleeb staffers John and John and listen to why Scott brought his team up to the Nebraska Sandhills.

See video here: http://think.mtv.com/...

Crossposted at New Nebraska Network.

I thought I'd get ready for the fourth by posting a couple of snarky projects from my site. I've got some love up and down the ticket for Nebraska's candidates.

Now, before I post these, a disclaimer. I have a nasty streak. It's more fun for me to blast the opponent than to extoll the virtues of my own candidates. Besides, we all know Barack, Scott and Jim kick butt.

And now, the snark, starting with the Indistinguishable Gentleman from the Second Congressional District:

Two more videos below the fold...

This Friday, we celebrate 232 years of independence. We celebrate not only our country's independence - but the independent spirit we as Americans all share. 

Independence Day isn't just about our past, it's also about our future.  Our campaign is committed to practicing a new brand of politics, and that requires each of us to recommit ourselves to the principles our founding fathers fought for.

(Been a long time everyone but it's good to get a post off every now and then! - Mike)

My fellow bloggers, as I'm sure you know, our 2nd quarter financial deadline is coming up this Monday at midnight and we need your help! While our opponent has taken nearly $1 million of special interest PAC money, our campaign has been powered by small dollar contributors like yourself! Now we're taking that message viral!

Since I never ask anyone to do something I wouldn't do -- I donated the first $5!

The deadline is looming. A five dollar contribution can truly be the difference in this race!

Thank you for your support -- and your eventual contribution!

Mike Nellis
Nebraskans for Kleeb