Senator Chuck Hagel Retiring!
By Steve Foley Posted in Congress — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Senator Hagel is calling it quits and I couldn't be more ecstatic!
Chuck Hagel will announce Monday that he is retiring from the U.S. Senate and will not run for president next year, people close to the Nebraska Republican said Friday.
Hagel plans to announce that "he will not run for re-election and that he does not intend to be a candidate for any office in 2008," said one person, who asked not to be named.
Hagel has scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. Monday at the Omaha Press Club.
According to one person interviewed, Hagel told Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky on Friday morning that he had decided to retire. Hagel's staff learned of his decision that afternoon.
The North Platte native earned national recognition as perhaps the most vocal, at times angry, GOP critic of the Bush administration's Iraq policies.
His outspokenness on Iraq and other key issues, including Social Security and foreign policy, fueled national interest in Hagel as he flirted with a possible presidential bid.
His national profile reached its zenith in March, when he headed to Omaha to hold a press conference on his political future.
But amid wide speculation that he was leaning toward a White House run, Hagel announced that he would disclose his plans later in the year.
His pending retirement leaves another GOP Senate seat without an incumbent at a time when the Republican Party is struggling to stem potential losses and must defend more seats than Democrats.
In Nebraska, the news will trigger a scramble among possible successors.
Attorney General Jon Bruning has been campaigning for the GOP Senate nomination since spring. A second Republican, financial adviser Pat Flynn of Schuyler, also already announced his candidacy.
I totally agreed with the The Directors here @ RedState when they wrote Nebraskans should choose Jon Bruning for Senate. Let's all push towards that goal!!!
I am worried that former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) will now be the favorite.
Why do some of these deep-red states keep electing Democrats to the Senate?
I had hoped Hagel would seek reelection. Now I'll wait for Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. I have nothing against Bruning and I agree that he makes a strong candidate, but I think Johanns probably offers us a better chance to keep the seat. I'd rather have Bruning in the Senate, but we underestimate the potential for a Democrat upset at our own peril. We are all but certain to lose Senate seats, and in my view the White House, and we could conceivably be looking at this seat either in 2009 or 2011 as the difference in whether the Democrats have a filibuster-proof Senate. I'll gladly get on board of Johanns takes a pass, but until then, I'm a hold out.
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