Hagel (R-Ne) hasn't tipped his '08 hand, today at 10 A.M. central we will know what he is doing

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=2345895

Published Monday | March 12, 2007
Hagel hasn't tipped his '08 hand
BY JAKE THOMPSON AND ROBYNN TYSVER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS

A tight-lipped Sen. Chuck Hagel arrived in Omaha from Washington on Sunday afternoon and prepared to make what could be the biggest political announcement of his life.

Some Nebraska Republicans speculated that Hagel appeared ready to jump into the 2008 presidential contest, a decision that could shake up a GOP presidential field that already numbers 10 candidates. Hagel would grab a unique place as the GOP's leading critic of President Bush's Iraq strategy.

But political operatives across the state said they continued to get mixed signals on what he would do, ranging from running for president to getting out of politics entirely.

"You get different signals and anything's possible," Mark Quandahl, chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party, said Sunday.

Hagel, who is known for playing things close to the vest, had managed to keep his decision confined to a small circle of family and close advisers over much of the weekend.

He holed up in a townhouse he owns in Omaha and declined to give any clue about his plans.

His spokesman, Mike Buttry, said Hagel would have nothing to say until his 10 a.m. appearance at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Hagel, whose current Senate term is up after 2008, could set up a presidential exploratory committee, delay a formal campaign until later or bow out of the White House race. Some have even speculated that he might run as an independent, although he previously seemed to rule that out.

Working in his favor, it is still early in the 2008 contest, and Republicans seem divided over their allegiances to the previously announced candidates. Some political analysts say there is room for another candidate to join the field.

Many Nebraska politicians planned to attend this morning's announcement, including Attorney General Jon Bruning and Gov. Dave Heineman. Both received invitations from Hagel.

State GOP chief Quandahl said he would be there. He said he's been fielding calls about Hagel's plans for weeks.

FULL story at link.

[bdamomma]

1. this should be very interesting if he decides to run

[mtnsnake]

2. I welcome him into the race with open arms

Maybe some of his spine will rub off on some of our own candidates.

[Dawgs]

3. He would be a very good candidate for the Republicans...

if he wasn't anti-war.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Saw Bill Kristol on Fox News (as much of that as I could stand),

and he looked like someone shat in his cornflakes as he discussed Hagel's chances--the "Enemy From Within" is making his move!

[skipos]

5. Hagel thinks Ben Nelson (NE) votes like Kennedy to much.

So he is the perfect candidate for anti-war neocons. How many of those are there?

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. It is disappointing

in that he looks like he is not running.
He's the only decent one of the bunch.

[frogmarch]

7. Anyone who

considers Hagel a good guy because of his anti-war stance should check his voting record.

http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=BC031069

I'm a Nebraskan and consider Hagel nothing more than just another piece of shit, asshole republican.