The polls over the last 2 weeks that saw Midland University President Ben Sasse pulling away in the Nebraska GOP Senate proved to be absolutely correct as he will more than double his closest opponent.

With 88% of precincts counted, Sasse had half the vote with Pinnacle Bank President Sid Dinsdale at 22% and former State Treasurer Shane Osborn, the early front runner, at 21%. Attorney Bart McLeay had 6% and businessman Clifton Johnson 1%.

The 43-year old Ben Sasse says his campaign’s upbeat tone won the day, not the heavy spending that outside groups poured into the race.

Speaking with the imperial we, Sasse told his supporters, “We were never doing this because we need another job. We were only going to do this if we were going to talk about big bold conservative ideas.”

The victory by Sasse is the first for Tea Party-backed groups this year, with the Senate Conservatives Fund spending more than $1.2 million directly on the campaign in support of Sasse, but then again, Osborn was also supported by several Tea Party groups.

On the Democratic side, attorney David Domina was a 2-1 winner over Larry Marvin, who did little active campaigning. Incumbent Republican Mike Johanns isn’t seeking a second term.
1,458 of 1,650 precincts – 88 percent
x-Ben Sasse 104,046 – 50 percent
Sid Dinsdale 46,578 – 22 percent
Shane Osborn 44,502 – 21 percent
Bart McLeay 11,751 – 6 percent
Clifton Johnson 3,147 – 1 percent

1,458 of 1,650 precincts – 88 percent
x-Dave Domina 42,757 – 68 percent
Larry Marvin 20,553 – 32 percent