Speculation Mounting on Hagel Run

Speculation has been mounting on a Presidential bid by outspoken critic of the Iraq war, Chuck Hagel.

Hagel has been prominent recently during the Iraq hearings by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, opposing the escalation plan by President Bush.

Over the last few weeks, the list of Republican candidates has grown substantially, with social conservative Sam Brownback and Mike Huckabee throwing their hats into the ring.

Hagel has said that he will be making an announcement soon - and we would expect that if he is running, to do something very shortly. He has been doing the media rounds on Fox News, Meet the Press, and last week on NBC Today.

Can Hagel secure enough support in the GOP to gain the nomination? He has certainly been on the outer with the White House and leading Republicans. But, frontunner candidates McCain, Giuliani and Romney have tied themselves closely to the President's strategy in Iraq.

If the GOP consider that a Hawkish candidate wont have a chance in the 2008 election, Hagel may be a viable option for them. He is, after all, conservative.

Newsweek in their next issue have a feature story on Hagel and his chances of winning the nomination, its worth a read.