I suppose Debbie Wasserman Schultz was right… Obamacare will be the basis for plenty of Democrats who are running. One prime example is found out in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, where Republican Lee Terry drew what Democrats were crowing about as a high profile challenger in the person of Pete Festersen. Pete had high hopes when he unofficially tossed his hat in the ring in October.

A partial shutdown of the U.S. government and an impasse over raising the federal debt ceiling have prompted a Nebraska Democratic officeholder to challenge Republican Rep. Lee Terry in the 2014 elections.

Pete Festersen, a city councilman in Omaha, reversed an earlier decision to sit out the race. ‘Like most people, my frustration has grown by the day over the last month, with the government shutdown and the brinkmanship on the debt ceiling,’ Festersen said, the Omaha World-Herald newspaper reported early today.

Festersen clearly didn’t care for all of those demands to shut down Obamacare, a program he cared very deeply about. And with the nation so clearly against the GOP, the time was ripe for him to make his move. But strangely, when the press asked for more details about his support of the healthcare law after the launch of the website, Pete was… rather quiet.

Omahans might wonder what congressional candidate Pete Festersen thinks about the new health care law’s stumbling, bumbling start.

They should check back in 2014.

The Omaha city councilman, a Democrat running against eight-term incumbent Republican Lee Terry, turned down a World-Herald request Tuesday to discuss implementation of the new law.

Campaign spokeswoman Tess Fogarty said Festersen would not discuss “congressional issues” until after he formally announces his candidacy — an announcement that most likely won’t come until sometime after the holidays.

If we assume that by “the holidays” Festersen meant Thanksgiving, he was absolutely true to his word and did have something to say.

He’s out of the race — again. Democrat Pete Festersen is ending his campaign for Republican Lee Terry’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Omaha City Council president told The World-Herald on Monday that he’s been unable to balance his work, family and council responsibilities with the demands of a high-profile congressional race. ‘It is the right time for moderate, practical-minded people to make a difference, but I’ve determined it’s not the right time for me or my young family to run for national office,’ Festersen said. He said he made the decision over the weekend, after having discussions with his family. It comes less than two months after Festersen announced he’d take on Terry in the 2014 election.

Festersen, 42, had been urged by prominent Democrats — including Vice President Joe Biden — to run.

You just witnessed the entire arc of a congressional campaign take place from October 14th to December 9th. But in all fairness, I suppose some things can just sneak up on you… like remembering that you have have a family. Or possibly, running on Obamacare and counting on voter anger at the GOP for fighting against the flawed program suddenly seemed like less of a sure thing.

Brave Sir Robin ran away.
Bravely ran away away.
When danger reared it’s ugly head,
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about
And gallantly he chickened out.

Bravely taking to his feet,
He beat a very brave retreat.
Bravest of the braaaave, Sir Robin!