Senator Chuck Hagel has officially announced his retirement from the Senate and that he will not seek the presidency in 2008 ending months of rumors to the contrary.

Chuck Hagel, the rather independent minded Senator from Nebraska, will reveal his future plans on monday at 11:00am Eastern. He has been rumored to be considering a run for the presidency, though those odds have gotten lower as time has progressed. He will also reveal whether or not he will run for re-election. If he choses to run Hagel faces a primary challenge from Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning.

Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel left the possibility of running for president as an independent along with NY City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wide open on Face the Nation yesterday.

One thing the article didn’t pontificate on is the possibility that if Hagel leaves the party officially the Republicans will be one more vote shy of a majority in the Senate. The prospects thus far don’t look good for Republicans wanting to take back that body in 2008 and one more seat lost won’t make it any easier for them.

Hello all, still recovering from the flu so I am a day late on this one.

On Monday Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican from Nebraska, will announce his plans (whatever they may be) for 2008. Hagel has made mention in the past that he might run and his fervent criticism of the Bush administration and the Iraq War since its inception put him in an interesting place. If he runs many believe his reach into the more moderate and war weary section of the Republican party could shack the primaries up. He could also play well in sections of Ohio and Pennsylvania.