Omaha, NE -  First Hal Daub, now another Republican takes the plunge.

Jon Bruning says the only way he could beat Mike Johanns' in a U.S. Senate race would be to run a smear campaign.  Well rather than let things get messy, Bruning choose a clean exit.

"I am here to announce today that I am ending my candidacy for the United States Senate."

Bruning's decision to drop out clears the way for former Governor Mike Johanns.

"Jon would have been a very formidable opponent.  As he sites from the numbers, the money raised the volunteers he was putting together a very strong campaign."

With a presidential endorsement among other assets, Johann's Senate campaign is not the competition Bruning says he had in mind when he launched his own race.

"I will not defer to any other candidate who may join me in this race," is Bruning's quote from June 7th when he launched his campaign.

Dave Roberts: "What's changed since you made that statement?" Bruning: "Well, you know on June 7th if we had had a gentlemen's bet whether Mike Johanns was going to get in, I wouldn't have thought he was."

Dave: "When you old us last Wednesday that I am running hard and running to win, were you already considering leaving the race when you said that to us?" Bruning: "Yeah sure. Absolutely . Yeah I am not going to inform you every step of the way what I am thinking, my deepest inner thoughts, you know. You're not my psychologist right."

Bruning's decision to pull the plug leaves Johanns and businessman Pat Flynn bidding for the Republican nomination.

As for the Democrat's, so far nobody's willing to step into the political arena.

Bruning's raised more than one-point one million dollars in campaign contributions.  When we asked what he's going to do with the money, he said quote, "sit on it."  At the same time he won't predict his political future, while the money's he's raised can only be used for a federal race.

Reported by Dave Roberts, dgroberts@action3news.com