Agriculture Secretary to decide soon on Senate race

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns will decide "in the immediate future" whether to run for the Senate, an aide said on Wednesday, amid reports the former governor was sure to run for the Nebraska seat.

Johanns could enter the race as early as Monday after resigning as agriculture secretary, perhaps this week, several news reports indicated. A USDA spokesman said the department had no announcement to make.

"Secretary Johanns understands that this is a decision he needs to make in the immediate future and he intends to do so," said Terri Teuber, Johanns' spokeswoman.

Johanns resigned during his second term as governor to become agriculture secretary in January 2005, overseeing one of the largest federal departments with 100,000 employees.

An Iowa native, he practiced law in western Nebraska before being elected mayor of Lincoln, the state capital, en route to the governorship.

Three other Republicans already are in the race for the nomination to succeed Republican Chuck Hagel, who is retiring from the Senate. They are state Attorney General Jon Bruning, former Omaha mayor Hal Daub and a financial advisor, Pat Flynn.

Backers say Johanns, as a popular, recent governor, would be a formidable candidate. The National Republican Senatorial Committee is not taking sides in the primary, a spokeswoman said.

Democrats have raised the prospect of recruiting Bob Kerrey, former governor and former two-term senator, for the race. Since 2001, Kerrey has been president of The New School in New York City. Kerrey told the Omaha World-Herald newspaper on Wednesday he will decide soon whether to run.