We are getting into the final stretch of campaigning for both the Don Bacon and Brad Ashford camps and while the focus is on them, they are getting help sending their message across by bringing in some colleagues.
“It's an honor to have him here, he's a great leader," said Bacon welcoming GOP House Majority Whip Congressman Steve Scalise to Omaha.
Bacon is hoping to add a boost to his campaign.
"We've got to run like we're slightly behind, we're running 15-hours a day all the way through Tuesday and finish the race hard," said Bacon.
Throughout this race the bacon campaign has brought in political heavy hitters including House Speaker Paul Ryan.
"I appreciate the folks coming in like Steve and Speaker Ryan to give us a boost, it's helpful," said Bacon.
"The most important quality that Don brings is leadership," said Scalise.
UNO political science professor Paul Landow says bringing in these surrogates can be helpful and sets the tone of their message.
The candidates bring them in so that it appears as though they are players in Washington, if all the big guns come in from Washington that must mean they want that candidate electe," said Landow.
But does bringing in the big players come with a cost? Ashford’s campaign manager Sam Barrett says it paints Bacon as a party loyalist.
"The Washington establishment, the extreme right wing sees one of their own in Don Bacon that's why they are all coming to their rescue here," said Barrett.
Ashford has also brought in some of his colleagues—Congressman Seth Moulton and Ben Lujan.
But Barret says the GOP party leadership sees Bacon as a vote they can count on in Congress.
"When the chips are down they see Don Bacon as a reliable vote," said Barrett.
However Bacon doesn’t see it that way.
"You have a vision and priorities and be willing to work with either party to achieve those goals," said Bacon.
Either way—the second district is getting a lot of attention from the Washington DC beltway.
"That's the kind of people we all really need in Washington and it's why we are so interested in this race," said Scalise about Bacon.
Thursday at 3pm House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy will be in Omaha visiting the Bacon campaign.
Ashford's team said they don't expect any surrogates to come in during the remainder of the election cycle.
