Trump came to Nebraska to defend candidate facing sexual misconduct allegations,
But like many of the more than 50 voters CNN spoke with here, most of whom are Republicans, 59-year-old Lisa Ketcham said she has “mixed” feelings about the allegations, amid fierce pushback from the businessman and farmer/rancher, who has denied them. Ketcham, a Republican from Omaha, said the allegations raised concerns for her but neither the controversy nor Trump’s endorsement would be the driving factors when she casts her ballot.
In an interview with CNN, Herbster also dismissed the allegations as a “politically-timed smear.”
As it was for Trump, that aggressive strategy appears to be helping Herbster weather the accusations. In interviews with Nebraska voters in recent days, there was little evidence that the sexual misconduct accusations have played a major role in swaying their opinions one way or another.
Ketcham, the 59-year-old from Omaha whom CNN met at the Village Pointe shopping center, said she plans to do her “research” on Herbster, “as far as what he can do for Nebraska,” but is leaning toward Pillen, Herbster’s chief rival. Still, she said she wants to see the women’s claims investigated more deeply: “If (Herbster) wants to have any kind of clout, he needs to clear up those allegations.”
Many voters in the state said they were supporting Pillen, in part because of Ricketts’ faith in him and his focus on economic issues, while others said they were backing Lindstrom because they think he has been less negative. Some voters expressed distaste for the negativity of Herbster’s ads, as well as an overall exhaustion with the “mudslinging,” as one voter put it, at a time when Nebraskans are facing pressing economic concerns such as inflation.
“World issues are affecting us like anybody else. … Gas is up, ag is up, fertilizer. We can’t get fertilizer to farmers, and we’re an ag community,” said Vicky Ewin, a 64-year-old Republican who works for an agriculture supply, maintenance and distribution company. “Those farmers are suffering.”
Allegations against Herbster
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