Hagel the Bagel to Run Independent Race in 2008?--Updated!That's the
scoop from our buddies over at Ankle-Biting Pundits. Interestingly, after I got the email from them on this story, I was driving around at lunch and flipped over to Airhead America during a commercial break for Rush. Ed Schultz, who has the noontime show here, mentioned this story and even credited the Ankle-Biters(!). Schultz's take was that if Hagel did run, that the Democrats "would have a chance".
ABP does point out that if McCain wins, Hagel would probably endorse him, since there's not a whole lot of difference between the two.
Update: It didn't occur to me at the time, but a third-party candidate has a terribly hard time getting qualified for the ballot in anywhere near 50 states. Perot did it and Nader has done it, but Perot had surprisingly strong support and a compelling life story, and Nader piggybacked on the Greens (remember them?).
So it becomes pretty obvious that Hagel's run is not intended as a serious run for the White House, but instead a petty attempt to deny the Oval Office to the next Republican candidate.
