The Indistinguishible Chuck Hagel

It's been believed for a while by some that Republican Senator Chuck Hagel had intended on announcing a run for President this week. That was the buzz when he announced a press-conference for first thing yesterday, only to hold the press conference and do nothing of the sort:

Hagel called a news conference on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Omaha on Monday morning to say that he and his family would not make a decision about the 2008 race right now. The national media followed Hagel to Omaha, anticipating a new presidential candidate.

ABC News political director Mark Halperin said the so-called "Seinfeld announcement" -- the label many have put on the non-announcement -- may have fed the attitude that Hagel is too quirky to run for president.

K-Lo made this observation while the presser was going on yesterday:

Hagel...is going to have a hard time rallying anyone wasn't simply waiting for an antiwar Republican to join the field.

That is true and it is a more elegant enunciation of my own position. Said position is simply this: On the most important issue of the day, the Senator is indistinguishable from most Democrats. That is a recipe for primary defeat, a sort of Zero-percent Solution.

I'd like to believe that Hagel put on the brakes because he's wising up. I'm not sure I do believe it however...