Independent Candidate Osborn Visits Panhandle

Several weeks ago, incumbent Senator Deb Fischer was interviewed by the Observer during her visit to Kimball. In an effort to provide fair coverage, the Observer contacted her opponent, Independent Dan Osborn for an interview.

The long-awaited election is Nov. 5, and Osborn was crisscrossing the western part of the state. While in Sidney on Monday, the Observer met with him for a brief interview.

Osborn noted that as he travelled throughout the state, Nebraskans expressed concern about the economy/inflation, immigration and the border, and thirdly, Osborn said, Nebraskans are concerned about individual liberties – and he highlighted the 2nd amendment and abortion. Osborn supports the 2nd amendment, although in response to abortion, he believes that “the federal government should not be dictating to women their own health care.”

Immigration and the border worry many Nebraskans.

Osborn said, “We need to secure the border, plain and simple.” When pressed about supporting a wall, he simply said, “Yeah, if a barrier is the answer, then build the wall.” He added that he would help in the building process if necessary.

One issue that was not addressed in Sidney was the environment; Osborn said that kind of “blows me away” because, without a healthy planet, nothing else matters.

As an Independent, he said he would be “working for the people, not a party.” Osborn explained that whoever gets elected president, he will work with either one “to deliver for Nebraska.” He stated that he would not caucus with either party.

In reference to the Farm Bill, Osborn said that he was in favor of small farms and ranches rather than corporate farming with crop insurance.

He said he is all about creating a level playing field. Osborn said he feels like the American Dream still exists, but “I believe it is dwindling.”

Osborn spoke about China as a final topic: “We have to win in the economy, we have to win with jobs, and get our jobs back.” He said returning manufacturing jobs to the United States is the key to being tough on China.

After Sidney, Osborn and his people crisscrossed the Panhandle, hitting Ogallala, North Platte, Scottsbluff, and other western cities.