Former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub embarked Thursday on a 12-county tour of western Nebraska in preparation for a decision on whether to enter the 2008 Senate race.

Daub, a Republican who served four terms in the House of Representatives prior to being elected mayor, plans to visit all 93 counties prior to Labor Day.

He’s already traveled to 17 counties since June 1.

Daub, who has billed the trip as a “listening and learning tour,”said he’s heard from Nebraskans about education, farm legislation, immigration and the environment.

Attorney General Jon Bruning already has declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat now held by GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel.

Hagel plans to announce later this year whether he’ll be a candidate for a third term.