If Hagel ends up running as an Independent--does he help us or them?

[WI_DEM]

Poll question: If Hagel ends up running as an Independent--does he help us or them?

I watched a bit of the news this morning and speculation is that Chuck Hagel is going to run for the GOP nomination in '08, but that he may also decide if he doesn't get it to run as an independent. Now on the war, he is taking a strong anti-war stand but on every other issue he is a hardline conservative republican. So, if he runs as an indie which party would he help? One analyst this morning said it could be like John Anderson in '80 ran for the GOP nomination and then dropped out to mount a independent bid. I recall Anderson, who was a much more moderate republican overall than Hagel, as hurting President Carter more than Ronald Reagan.

It would be nice to have a third party candidate who hurts them rather than us, but I'm not sure Hagel is it.

[skipos]

1. He would hurt us with anti-war Dems who think Ben Nelson is too liberal

Why do people think he will run as an independent? He is NOW anti-war, but other than that he is a total far right nutjob.

[Nite Owl]

2. He voted against raising the

minimum wage? Just keep running that commercial over and over and it will hurt the GOP.

[corkhead]

3. he won't be taking Dem votes when everyone learns his voting record

[bryant69]

4. It's hard to say, but it depends on what kind of campaign is run

Will it be a partisan mudfest like 2000 or 2004? Or will it try to strike a more concillatory tone? Certainly whoever the republicans put up will have to know he can't get a lot of value out of running on a Bush Republican. On the other hand will he really be able ot resist painting the Democrats as weak and cowardly? If Hagel can sell himself as a "sane" republican he could hurt them; on the other hand if he can sell himself as a "Strong" Democrat (particularly if our candidate has been bloodied by Republicans), he could hurt us.

I'd say in a Gingrich/Clinton face of, Hagel would hurt Gingrich. In a Guilliani/Edwards fight, he'd hurt Edwards.

I could be wrong though.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Purveyor]

5. Much would depend on who the GOP actually nominated.

With a McCain or Rudy nomination, it would probably hurt the repukes more as many of the core conservatives won't be able to bring themselves to vote for either of those two leaving Hagel as their option.

[Adelante]

6. It depends on our nominee

If we run an IWR-voter, Hagel wins.

[skipos]

11. Why? Hagel is an IWR voter, and a big supporter of Bush's policies

overall.

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. By definition, an Independant does not help either

/snark

Seriously though, I can't decide. There are plenty of 'anti-war' people who have that as their #1 issue that they'd be willing to give everything else about Hagel on the side and vote for him, IMO. There are also plenty of (R) voters who have become disillusioned with Iraq and would look at Hagel as a win-win with his record on everything BUT Iraq.

But at this point, his announcement today seemed more like a "keep me in mind" sort of thing. It's strange that he announces a press conference days in advance, has all of the talking heads hyper-speculating throughout the weekend and then only says, "Maybe, maybe not. neener neener!"

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Beats me. But, the more choices the better.

[Monkeyman]

9. What one thing that could be good

The Replug Veterans would go for him. 32 Million vets 48 percent are Replugs

[KittyWampus]

10. He will NOT EVER run as an independant.

[cooolandrew]

12. I feel he would help most dems are too cynical of republicans by now even with an (I)

[Warpy]

13. I'd say it's about 50-50

Dems who are ignorant about his conservatism would prefer him to a war hawk like Clinton or even an as yet unnamed pile of mush who was afraid to vocalize his/her stand.

Rank and file GOPs who are sick of the tyranny of the religious nutjobs would swallow their lust for an impossible victory in Iraq and vote for him.

I doubt he'll run. The combination of kneejerk loyalty and a very likely threat from higher ups will discourage him from supporting his country the way he sees fit.