Skyping with the senator

Seventh and eighth grade social studies students at St. Patrick School begin their interview of Sen. Mike Johanns via the Internet. (Lorri Sughroue/McCook Daily Gazette)

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Seventh and eighth grade social students at St. Pat's Catholic School grilled Nebraska U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns on a number of issues during a Skype interview Monday, finding out a few things about the senator.

He supports Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

He spent many nights at the White House when George W. Bush was president, but not once since President Obama took office.

He prefers to watch Husker games sitting with the crowd, not in a skybox.

After a minor issue with the mute button was resolved, Sen. Johanns' image was telecast via the Internet on the Smartboard at the front of the classroom, as well as in the back of the classroom on a computer monitor equipped with a camera.

The students of Amanda Feilen peppered him with a variety of questions, ranging from the economic crisis in Europe and the Ogallala aquifer, to repealing the healthcare plan and Essential Air Service.

In response to the question which Republican presidential candidate he would support, Johanns answered with Romney.

Why him?

Johanns said he knew Romney when they were both governors and that Romney has a successful track record in what he's accomplished. That success would translate well to the White House, Johanns said.

In an answer to another question, Johanns said although he spent the night many times at the White House during the President George Bush administration, '"I don't have that same kind of relationship with this administration."

Student Eric Langan, noticing a white Husker football on the shelf behind the Senator, asked if he attended Husker games in a skybox.

With a smile, Sen. Johanns said he tries to attend as many games as possible, but compared watching the games in a skybox to watching it "my living room." He preferred to watch them "out in the crowd, probably next to someone you know," he said.

In response to if he ever thought he'd be a senator, Johanns admitted that his path into politics was not what anyone expected.

"We were dairy farmers, really good farmers, and I didn't think I'd pick anything different," he said. His parents urged him to get as much education as possible and that was what made the difference, he said.

Johanns took questions for about 20 minutes, before finally wrapping it up. The questions were outstanding, he told the class, "as good as any group I've been with."