Advisers for Chuck Hagel say he is likely to jump into the 2008 presidential race

[sabra]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,231257,00.html

<snip>

Advisers for Hagel say he is likely to jump into the 2008 presidential race, although he has told supporters his decision will not be final until January. That decision, aides say, also is to include whether he would run for re-election to the Senate. His Senate term ends in 2008.

Hagel has said he will not "play coy" by filing first with an exploratory committee, but rather will say outright if he is running.

Hagel has not campaigned as aggressively as other Republican candidates like McCain or Romney, but has been clear about his presidential ambitions. For the election season that just ended, Hagel spent more time stumping for candidates than in any prior campaign, and has begun building support networks in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina — the crucial primary states.

[David Dunham]

1. Hagel, who is dislikes the Iraq war, would be a strong GOP candidate

[ps1074]

7. I agree

This guy is very dangerous

[Sensitivity]

15. Someone needs to get to him with an offer he won't refuse -- to become a Dem

Hagel is what we call a qualified candidate -- Rational policy positions, extensive
domestic and foreign policy experience, successful corporate executive experience,
real military combat valor (two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star).

The comparison to some of the candidates that we Dems are pushing -- Hillary, Obama -
is painful to the bone.

[DURHAM D]

2. The last Repub in the world I want in this race. n/t

[IA_Seth]

3. That would be the GOP's best play I fear...

Although I still think Clark could take him in the general election, I think Hagel would be a tough opponent (tougher than McCain even).

Definitely will be staying tuned to this!

[jwirr]

4. Anyone know what his social issues scores look like? This man

could be strong.

[Nite Owl]

14. I remember reading that he called

Sen. Ben Nelson a liberal. That says alot about how how conservative he is.

[Pab Sungenis]

5. Hagel owns the voting machines. Literally.

We'd be screwn.

(Edit to make it clear it was the Senator, not the Philosopher, I was talking about.)

[Fierce]

11. Heh.

Hegel owns the machines, but Nietzsche does the counting!

[Sensitivity]

6. Not good for Dems-- Hagel is anti-bush and pretty reasonable

[sabra]

8. he's also a Vietnam vet, which could be a plus

[longship]

9. Gore vs Hagel would be one helluva race.

Chuck Hagel is the one Republican who could turn the Repukes back into the Republicans. Talking about changing the tone of Washington... This might really do it.

I don't know why, but I'd like to see this race.

[Hoosier Dem]

10. Hagel will be a tough opponent...

If the GOP decides to nominate Hagel, we'll just have to work harder to win. Hagel is definitely more formidable that Rudy or McCain.

Fortunately for us, the GOP marches in lock-step and Hagel's criticisms of Bush and the war will likely not play well in Repig land. The odds of him being nominated are slim, but we need to keep an eye on this one.

[sallyseven]

12. Oh Oh now we have a problem

He is not insane like the rest of the pack. That should put Tweety, Scarborough in a bind. What will they say?? what will they do??? Romney is a first class nitwit, Gualaini is never going to make it, and McCain is too volatile. Good heavens

[Junkdrawer]

13. That would make Voting Machines a prime issue (Hagel and ES&S)...

....

In 1996, Hagel became the first elected Republican Nebraska senator in 24 years when he did surprisingly well in an election where the votes were verified by the company he served as chairman and maintained a financial investment. In both the 1996 and 2002 elections, Hagel’s ES&S counted an estimated 80% of his winning votes. Due to the contracting out of services, confidentiality agreements between the State of Nebraska and the company kept this matter out of the public eye. Hagel’s first election victory was described as a “stunning upset” by one Nebraska newspaper.

....

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0225-05.htm


Oh, please...