Mark Towner's Spyglass Spots: Breaking: Hagel Out

September 8, 2007Breaking: Hagel OutPosted by REID WILSON E-Mail This Permalink Email Author
The Omaha World-Herald reports this morning that maverick Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska will call it quits in a Monday press conference, retiring from the Senate and forgoing a presidential bid. One source tells the World-Herald that Hagel told GOP leader Mitch McConnell of his decision yesterday.
The race to succeed Hagel already includes Attorney General Jon Bruning, and former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub is expected to join in soon. Former Nebraska Governor and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns is said to be interested in the race.
On the Democratic side, DSCC chairman Chuck Schumer is hoping to recruit former Senator Bob Kerrey for a run at his old job. Kerrey is currently the president of the New School University in New York and has hinted that he is interested in a run. Without Kerrey, Democrats would turn to Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey or 2006 congressional candidate Scott Kleeb.
Democrats would have the strongest chance of winning the seat with Kerrey at the top of the ticket, and the former senator would probably be considered the favorite against Daub and Bruning. But Johanns would certainly come in as the front-runner, both in the GOP primary and in the general. A Kerrey-Johanns matchup would be viewed as a battle of the titans and would become one of the nation's most-watched races.
Hagel's decision brings to three the number of open seats Republicans will have to defend. The announcement continues a trend of Republicans who waited to decide their fate and chose re-election -- of the Senate Republicans who said they would announce their future plans at later dates, just Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran has opted for another race. Speculation continues to mount that Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens and New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici are also considering stepping down.