Nelson says he hopes Hagel runs, doubts he'd win
Posted: Friday, April 06, 2007
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska hopes his home-state Republican colleague, Chuck Hagel, will run for president in 2008 but doubts Hagel could win his party's nomination strictly as an anti-war candidate.
"I hope he runs and I hope that he will get the nomination," Nelson said in an interview Thursday after speaking to a political science class at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. "I think he could bring some capabilities to the office."
Nelson cited Hagel's grasp of international diplomacy and said that skill would be essential for the next president.
"It's been lacking in this presidency, but I think in the next presidency it could be important, and I would like to see him run," Nelson said.
Hagel spokesman Mike Buttry said the senator appreciated the sentiments from Nelson but declined to comment further.
At the same time, Nelson cast doubt on whether Hagel could end up in the White House, either as a Republican against the war in Iraq or as an independent.
"If the perception is that he's only an anti-war candidate, I don't see how he wins the nomination of the Republican Party," Nelson said.
He also doesn't see how an independent candidate could raise enough money to win the election.
"It just doesn't work in our system yet to have an independent candidate," Nelson told the students.
Hagel hasn't announced a possible presidential bid yet, Republican or otherwise.
The most vocal Republican opponent of the Iraq war, Hagel put off the presidential decision last month, saying he wanted to focus on the conflict and other pressing national issues.
Hagel said would decide which course his political future would take later this year and that a late entry into the 2008 presidential race was still possible. Hagel's senatorial term also runs out next year.
"I hope he runs and I hope that he will get the nomination," Nelson said in an interview Thursday after speaking to a political science class at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. "I think he could bring some capabilities to the office."
Nelson cited Hagel's grasp of international diplomacy and said that skill would be essential for the next president.
"It's been lacking in this presidency, but I think in the next presidency it could be important, and I would like to see him run," Nelson said.
Hagel spokesman Mike Buttry said the senator appreciated the sentiments from Nelson but declined to comment further.
At the same time, Nelson cast doubt on whether Hagel could end up in the White House, either as a Republican against the war in Iraq or as an independent.
"If the perception is that he's only an anti-war candidate, I don't see how he wins the nomination of the Republican Party," Nelson said.
He also doesn't see how an independent candidate could raise enough money to win the election.
"It just doesn't work in our system yet to have an independent candidate," Nelson told the students.
Hagel hasn't announced a possible presidential bid yet, Republican or otherwise.
The most vocal Republican opponent of the Iraq war, Hagel put off the presidential decision last month, saying he wanted to focus on the conflict and other pressing national issues.
Hagel said would decide which course his political future would take later this year and that a late entry into the 2008 presidential race was still possible. Hagel's senatorial term also runs out next year.
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mia wrote on Apr 8, 2007 2:16 PM: