Democratic Nebraska Senate hopeful Scott Kleeb faced off against former councilman/mayor/governor/Ag Secretary Mike Johanns today (Thursday) for the first time.  Both are vying for the Senate seat vacated by Republican Chuck Hagel.

By all accounts, this was a sedate affair with the candidates just sorta getting to know each other.  No sparks, no fur flew.  And since we’re in the midst of some stormy weather, I suspect it didn’t get much attention.  

I made him flinch.  

Just barely ... but it was there.  When Scott Kleeb extended a strong and confident hand at his new "Nebraskans for Kleeb" office here in Lincoln, I jokingly told him I was there to represent the Kossack Nation.  For the briefest possible second he stared blankly at me like I was reading from a Bulgarian phonebook – then he grinned and asked me my username.

And so it began ...