September 10, 2007
The Maverick Candidate Who Might Have Been
Pity that Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel never jumped into the 2008 presidential race. John McCain is the only big-name GOP candidate who talks about the Iraq war in specifics, while Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have been hanging back cautiously in anticipation of today's report from Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Surely the Republican nomination contest could have used an injection of skepticism about the war from someone other than Ron Paul, if only for the practice it would provide candidates ahead of the general election matchup.
But Hagel's almost-candidacy never arrived, despite some sly flirting with the political press. Remember that dinner with Mike Bloomberg? Both men were careful not to kiss and tell, so to speak, but then the Nebraska Republican went ahead and strongly hinted to CBS' Bob Schieffer that a Hagel-Bloomberg ticket might be a pretty good idea.
It was all a big tease.
Certainly, Hagel's non-announcement announcement in March took some wind out of his sails. The media loathes that sort of thing. But it became clear that the often dour senator might not have the stomach for all the glad-handing, butter cow-admiring that's required of modern day presidential campaigns. Hagel took on the "maverick Republican" mantle because of his anger over the war, and because of the anger of his kind at McCain, one of the "surge" plan's lonely, vocal backers. Maybe Hagel was too much of a maverick politician for this incredibly long and often silly election cycle.
Hagel, who's no fan of President Bush or his "hijacked" party these days, may get the last laugh. He joins Virginia's John Warner and Colorado's Wayne Allard in retiring from the Senate in 2008. Republicans have more seats to defend and less money to defend them with next year. Alaska's Ted Stevens could also be in trouble, depending on the outcome of a federal probe. And let's not forget -- OK, maybe let's -- Idaho's Larry Craig.
The Washington Post describes the droopy-faced Hagel as "weary" of the Iraq war debate, though it's pretty clear the war isn't the only thing Hagel is weary of.
The Omaha World-Herald has the skinny on the race to succeed Hagel. For a trip down memory lane, here's the Esquire profile that kicked off mass speculation Hagel would run for president.
Posted at 11:25 AM
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Campaigns, Chuck Hagel, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Republicans, Rudy Giuliani, WH 2008
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