From today's edition of The Hotline:
This Back Story Has Intrigue, Plot Twists And A Love Of Corn
The "behind-the-scenes movement" towards the pick "began over breakfast at a Village Inn in Omaha" days after Ag Sec Ann Veneman announced her resignation. NE GOP chair David Kramer and NE GOP exec dir Chris Peterson discussed whether any NEans might want the job. They agreed that Peterson, an ex-Johanns aide, should call Johanns "to determine if he had any interest." Johanns "told Peterson he'd consider the ag post a dream job and gave his permission to convey that message" to the WH. Peterson called WH political affairs dir Matt Schlapp and Kramer called BC'04 mgr Ken Mehlman. The "seed was planted and" the WH "took it from there." Johanns met with Mehlman at the RGA meeting in New Orleans 11/04, and on 12/1, he sat down with Bush "who offered him the position" (Walton, Lincoln Journal-Star, 12/3).
The Johanns pick "was the best-kept secret at the State Capitol." AS late as 9:15 am 12/2, "neither Johanns' staff nor" NE LG Dave Heineman (R) "knew anything official" about the decision (Stoddard, Omaha World-Herald, 12/2).
Recent Comments