Rep. Adrian Smith is conspicuously absent from a long list of hosts for a fund-raising reception for Sen. Chuck Hagel later this month.

The list of more than 100 hosts for the $100-per-person event in Omaha sponsored by Hagel for Senate includes Reps. Jeff Fortenberry and Lee Terry, Nebraska’s other two Republican congressmen.

Attorney General Jon Bruning recently announced he may challenge Hagel in the 2008 Republican primary election if the senator seeks re-election to a third term.

“Both gentlemen are friends of mine,” Smith said Monday by telephone from Washington.

“It’s a hypothetical matchup and I’m not getting too excited about hypothetical matchups at this point.”

Smith won election to western and central Nebraska’s 3rd District House seat last November.

Asked for his reaction, Hagel political director Kevin Chapman said: “We are thrilled with the response we’ve gotten on this event. It shows the broad base of support Senator Hagel has in Nebraska.”

Missing from the list of Republican state officeholders serving as hosts was State Treasurer Shane Osborn. 

Gov. Dave Heineman, Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy, Secretary of State John Gale and State Auditor Mike Foley will co-host the event.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will headline the May 18 reception at the Paxton ballroom in downtown Omaha.

Following that reception, McConnell will join Hagel at a $1,000-per-person fund-raising dinner at the Happy Hollow Country Club.  Contributors will be asked to consider the $4,600 federal maximum donation to Hagel for Senate.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.