Heading into the May 13 Nebraska Republican senatorial primary, Ben Sasse has a 14-point lead,
Breitbart reported.
A poll by Megellan Strategies gives Sasse 38 percent, former bank president Sid Dinsdale 24 percent, and 20 percent to former state treasurer Shane Osborn.
The three are the leading GOP contenders to fill the seat made vacant by the impending retirement of Republican Sen. Mike Johanns.
Sasse has the endorsement of tea party groups, the Omaha World Herald reported.
Backing for Sasse also comes from former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Mark Levin, the conservative radio personality, the Club for Growth, the Senate Conservatives Fund, the Madison Project, and Citizens United, according to Breitbart.
Sasse, who holds a doctorate in history of religion, also picked up the support of former presidential candidate Rick Santorum, the National Journal reported. Santorum, who has a strong base of support among the state's social conservatives, said Sasse could be counted upon to oppose abortion. "I know Ben will make the pro-life fight a central part of his Senate tenure on day one."
Dinsdale is considered a liberal Republican, while Osborn is running with the backing of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, according to Breitbart. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach endorsed Osborn on the grounds that he would "vote against amnesty for illegal aliens," the Lincoln Journal Star reported.
Dinsdale took issue with claims by conservative bloggers that his family are backers of Planned Parenthood.
"My wife Dawn and my daughters, Alison and Paige, have never been involved with Planned Parenthood and have never given money to any pro-abortion group." His sister, Jane Rogers, did serve on a Planned Parenthood board. Dinsdale and the other leading GOP candidates have the endorsement of Nebraska Right to Life, Nebraska Watchdog reported.
The Club for Growth has criticized Dinsdale for saying he would have voted to raise the debt ceiling. He says he would work to "stop wasteful deficit spending so we don't have to raise the debt ceiling ever again," Roll Call reported.
The Megellan poll was carried out on May 8 and has a margin of error of 4.28 points. An earlier poll conducted in late April showed Osborn and Sasse in a dead heat.
The Republican nominee will go up against Democratic attorney David Domina in this heavily Republican state.
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