National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Communications Director Brian Walsh issued the following statement in response to reports that Bob Kerrey will not run for the open U.S. Senate seat in Nebraska.

“In a last ditch effort to keep this seat in President Obama’s hands, national Democrats put the full-court press on Bob Kerrey to run for the U.S. Senate, but even Kerrey knew that Obama’s reckless tax-and-spend agenda made it an uphill battle, just as it will be for many Democrats running in key battleground states .  Kerrey’s decision to stay in New York is a blow to the Democrats’ hopes of holding their Senate majority and reiterates why we believe Nebraskans will elect a fiscally-responsible, conservative Republican Senator next fall.”

What They’ve Said About National Democrats’ Efforts To Recruit Bob Kerrey….

• Democrats and Republicans seem to agree that Kerry is Nebraska Democrats’ only hope for holding onto the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Ben Nelson, the man who replaced Kerrey. (“A political tip sheet for the rest of us outside the Washington Beltway, Associated Press, 1/12/12)

• Operatives of both parties seem to agree that he may be the only Democrat who could hold the seat. (Jeff Smith, “Democrats can’t count on Kerrey,” Salon, 1/12/12)

• The poll suggests that while Kerrey would face an uphill battle, he remains Democrats’ best hope for holding on to the Senate seat that retiring Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) will be vacating. Democrats have been eagerly courting Kerrey ever since Nelson announced in late December that he would not seek reelection, all but handing the seat to Republicans in a state where voters are wary of President Obama and Democrats in Congress. (Josh Lederman, “Poll: Kerrey best hope for Nebraska Dems, but no smooth sailing,” The Hill, 1/16/12)

• Their party has targeted former Sen. Bob Kerrey, a big name and former presidential-primary contender who is widely considered the only Nebraska Democrat who could make the race competitive. (Sean Lengell, “Nebraska Democrats pin hopes on Kerrey,” The Washington Times, 1/17/12)

• Whether the Democrats can hold on to Nelson’s seat will depend on how strong a replacement candidate they can find. Former Sen. Bob Kerrey is reportedly considering running on the Democratic ticket, and he could be the party’s only hope, since he remains popular in the state. (Maggie Astor, “Ben Nelson Retirement: What Does It Mean for Democats?” International Business Times, 12/27/11)

• “Democrats face long odds to keep Nelson’s seat even if they recruit former Sen. Bob Kerrey, who’s exploring a challenge.” (“The Hotline’s Senate Race Rankings: Are You Better Off…” National Journal Hotline, 1/26/12)

• “But he [Kerrey] is seen as Democrats‘ only hope of keeping the seat being vacated by Ben Nelson.” (National Briefs, Newsday, 1/12/12)