By Tracy Overstreet
tracy.overstreet@theindependent.com

That only happens when he answers the call to serve, Kleeb said.

"We face now a $9 trillion debt and this debt is increasingly being owned by other countries Japanese, Norwegians, Saudi Arabians, Venezuelans are owning our debt increasingly," Kleeb said.

For him, that takes on a very personal face the one of his infant daughter, born last summer.

"That's $30,000 being passed on to every child being born in America. That for me now has a name, Maya," Kleeb said. "Through no choice or fault of her own, she's saddled with $30,000 worth of debt because we're not willing to reduce our spending here.

"That's a critical question going forward. It's hindering us," Kleeb said. "The more and more we spend, then we are unable to do things when we truly need them."

Kleeb, 32, is also concerned about the economy the ag economy, the national economy and general business growth.

"We're seeing, right now, rising inflation, rising costs and at the same time lowering wages and we're exporting more jobs overseas than we're building here in our country," he said.

He also targeted energy as an issue of critical importance and one in which Nebraska could really capitalize.

"This is Nebraska's opportunity to give to the rest of the country what the country needs more than anything else right now an alternative energy supply," Kleeb said.

He cited biodiesel and wind farms, plus opportunities that even Nebraska hasn't begun to explore yet as energy opportunities that need support.

"It's another reason to be very optimistic about the future of our state," he said.

Kleeb said the economy and energy are also key issues for Nebraska and the nation.

Regarding the war in Iraq, Kleeb said the generals are correct.

The current troop level is unsustainable over the time frames proposed by presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Kleeb said strong diplomacy is needed to create a shift from the current unilateral force to a multilateral force with regional players trying to stabilize an impending civil war there.

The war ties directly into another area of concern health care.

Kleeb said American soldiers are not being supported to the level they should be when they return home from service. Many lack health care. So, too, do many other Americans.

"Forty-seven million Americans don't have health insurance right now and businesses are unable to compete in a global environment because of their rising costs of health care," Kleeb said.

With just about 75 days before the May 13 primary, he said, he will be working hard to garner support in a strongly Republican district.

"I'll be sleeping less and drinking a lot of coffee," Kleeb said of coming days on the campaign trail.

He plans to continue teaching at Hastings College through the end of his current contract in May, he said.

Kleeb faces Columbus businessman Tony Raimondo and Larry Marvin of Fremont in the Democratic primary. The Republican front-runner is former U.S. ag secretary and former Nebraska governor Mike Johanns.