Sen. Jon Tester Wants Friends in the “Tractor Caucus”

By Jill Kuraitis, 6-27-08

	Caption: Nebraska Democratic Senate candidate Scott Kleeb

Nebraska Democratic Senate candidate Scott Kleeb might be a shoe-in if only women in Nebraska were allowed to vote (see photos.)

But Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana) wasn’t counting on the hottie vote when he sent a “money letter” to his email list endorsing Kleeb:

“There’s just something different about farmers. They have a unique connection to the land and their fellow worker that doesn’t go away, even after some move on to public office.

 Unfortunately, the Senate “Tractor Caucus” is looking pretty bare lately. Fortunately, we have a promising new candidate we’d like to have join our ranks: Scott Kleeb of Nebraska.”

Kleeb (pronounced Klebb) grew up on military bases, with summers home in Nebraska.  He worked as a ranch hand in Colorado and in Nebraska’s Sandhills during and after college.

“Scott is a teacher and a former ranch hand who understands the issues and knows what it’s like to put in a hard day’s work. His campaign is committed to a sense of community and common purpose that has fueled rural America for generations.”



Nebraska rancher Charles “Butch” McGinn has hired Kleeb as a ranch hand for months at a time, “many times.” McGinn said Kleeb built fence, repaired windmills, fed cows, put up hay, helped with calving, and “you name it, he did it.”

“Never had an employee who grasped things so fast - show him once and he had it.  I could trust him.”

Kleeb is also a Yalie with an M.A. in international relations and a PhD in history.  He now works at Morgan Ranch and teaches history at Hastings College. 

Peg Libbert, a Nebraska Democrat who is hosting a coffee this week called “Women for Scott Kleeb” told New West, “What I really like about Scott is he has a view based on his hard work with regular people and his education in history and government. He wrote his dissertation on Agricultural Economics. I think the Senate needs a person like that instead of more lawyers, not that I have anything against lawyers.”

She added, “Oh, yes - he has it all.  He’s so impressive in person – educated, with that history background – and of course, he’s a hunk. That never hurts in an election.”