Hagel might run for President as an Independent
 In an interview with Bloomberg Television on Saturday, Sen. Chuck Hagel, (R-NE), continued to publicly mull his future in politics, saying he is "seriously considering" options ranging from an independent run for president to leaving political life altogether.
"It's a 'possible,'" Hagel said when asked by Bloomberg's Al Hunt if he was thinking about running for President as an independent candidate. The remark came after Hagel had observed that "I don't ever foreclose any options... I think the political currents are running swiftly, deeply, unpredictably."
Hagel has been mulling a presidential bid for months, and some observers say his conservative credentials and antiwar stance would make him an attractive candidate. In March, Hagel called a widely covered press conference in Omaha only to announce that he had nothing to announce, as RAW STORY previously reported.
Hagel announced then that he will make a decision on his political future later this year, and that is essentially what he told Bloomberg.
"I will make a decision on my political future in a few months... I'm seriously considering – I hope – some options I might have," Hagel said on Political Capital with Al Hunt. "And one of those options is to leave politics for awhile. Maybe this is the right time to do it."
But in a departure from his past statements, Hagel said an independent presidential bid was "possible."
"I don't ever foreclose any options. We'll see how the political world develops. I think we are living at a time here in this country, Al, that is as unpredictably politically as I've ever seen maybe in modern times. I think the political currents are running swiftly, deeply, unpredictably," he told Hunt, after the TV host had asked him if he was considering an independent run for President as one of the options for his political future.
When Hunt pressed him for clarification, saying "I take it that's a possible," the Nebraska Republican replied, "It's a possible."
Hagel reportedly dismissed the idea of running outside the Republican party as ludicrous in a February interview with Newsweek, as noted at the Leavenworth Street blog. And at his March press conference, Hagel said, "I am a Republican. I believe I will continue to be a Republican," Bloomberg reported.
Hagel's office did not immediately respond to calls from RAW STORY seeking clarification on the senator's thinking.
EXCERPTS FROM THE BLOOMBERG INTERVIEW:
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MR. HUNT: Well, what are the odds that you will get into that race? You've said you'll decide later. But odds as of today?
SEN. HAGEL: I will. Well, I don't know about odds, Al. I never get into that business. But I will make a decision on my political future in a few months. I have to. I have a second term coming to an end next year. And it will come down -
MR. HUNT: Still seriously considering?
SEN. HAGEL: Well, I'm seriously considering - I hope - some options I might have. And one of those options is to leave politics for awhile. Maybe this is the right time to do it; 12 years in the Senate is a long time. It's been a tremendous opportunity. Maybe there are some other things I could do to influence the world more effectively.
MR. HUNT: You had dinner this week at the Palm Restaurant in Washington with NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg who - I should say - owns this company -- owns most of this company. Did you two discuss the possibility of running in '08, either together as a ticket or separately as independents?
SEN. HAGEL: The mayor and I had a delightful dinner. We talked about our families; we talked about backgrounds, the world, Iraq, politics. There was no conversation about the two of us teaming up on a ticket. We did talk about the entire arc of interests that a couple of politicians would, a couple people who are interested in the outcome of mankind, and both engaged in politics. We have a lot of common interests, both businessmen, both have - I think - some general philosophies that coincide. But no, there was no talk of any ticket.
MR. HUNT: Is one of your options to run as an independent?
SEN. HAGEL: Well, I don't ever foreclose any options. We'll see how the political world develops. I think we are living at a time here in this country, Al, that is as unpredictably politically as I've ever seen maybe in modern times. I think the political currents are running swiftly, deeply, unpredictably. What that then produces in the way of presidential dynamics and options next year I think is still quite unpredictable.
MR. HUNT: I take it that's a possible.
SEN. HAGEL: It's a possible.
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FULL TRANSCRIPT CAN BE VIEWED HERE
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