Republican chances to pick up the seat of retiring Ben Nelson in Nebraska just took a turn for the worse. Former Senator Bob Kerrey has changed his mind and decided to run.

Washington Post:

Former senator Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) has changed his mind and plans to run for the open Senate seat in Nebraska, according to a senior Democratic aide.

The aide said Kerrey has called Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to inform him of his plans.

Kerrey announced earlier this month that he decided against attempting a return to the Senate, citing his family.

Kerrey's former campaign manager, Paul Johnson, confirmed to The Fix that Kerrey is reconsidering his previous decision, but stopped short of saying it was a done deal.

"I know he is reconsidering, but I don't think he has made a final decision," Johnson said.

Kerrey's return would give Democrats new hope in a race that would likely be lost if he doesn't run. The Democratic bench in Nebraska is very thin behind retiring Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Kerrey.

Kerrey hasn't live in Nebraska since 2001 when he retired from the senate and moved to New York in order to run the New School. Charges of carpetbagging are bound to be made, but Kerrey is much admired in the state and the race will probably turn on bread and butter issues as they will everywhere else.