OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Arizona Sen. John McCain says he and other Republicans are aware that the U.S. Senate race in Nebraska has tightened but are confident that state Sen. Deb Fischer will beat Democrat Bob Kerrey in next week’s election.

McCain briefly stopped in Omaha on Friday morning to bolster Fischer’s campaign while discussing his endorsement of her.

McCain’s visit comes a day after his former Senate GOP colleague Chuck Hagel came to Omaha to announce his endorsement of Kerrey.

Kerrey, Hagel and McCain served together from 1997 through 2000 in the U.S. Senate and formed a bond as Vietnam War vets who were wounded during combat.

McCain is scheduled to fly to Ohio later Friday for a campaign rally with Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.