Even before the cycle began she was counting on Mike Johanns , then the popular Nebraska governor , to challenge Senator Ben Nelson , a Democrat .
Ben Nelson /people/person/place_lived Nebraska
RB IN DT NN VBD PRP VBD VBG IN NNP NNP , RB DT JJ NNP NN , TO VB NNP NNP NNP , DT NNP .
Ben Nelson
PERSON
Nebraska
LOCATION
/people/person/place_lived