Hagel in New Hampshire

Thanks to Political Wire for this link to a Lincoln Journal Star article covering Chuck Hagel's trip to the Granite State this week. Yesterday, Hagel visited the campus of Plymouth State University, and spoke to a group of approximately sixty people. "I'm not always the most popular Republican senator at the White House," Hagel said, continuing to emphasize the independent streak that he will almost certainly put to good use should be decide to run for president in 2008.

In the Plymouth appearance, Hagel didn't make any big news on the Bolton or nuclear option fronts: he said that if he decides the allegations are serious enough, he will not vote for Bolton, and continued to argue that a compromise should be reach to defuse the nuclear option, which he said "would not be good for the country or the Senate." He said in response to a question about 2008 "I hope to be in position to have the option of entertaining the possibility of running for president."

The Journal Star reports that George Maloof, a retired professor, told Hagel he hopes the Nebraskan will "join to stop the extreme right wing that seems to have taken over your party (and) stay a moderate." According to the Journal Star, Hagel said his voting record demonstrates that he is, in fact, a conservative Republican, 'but I think civility is important (and so is) a willingness to listen and to show tolerance.' Extremists in both parties debase the system, he said. After the event, Maloof said: 'I don't know much about him, but he seems to buck the administration at times. He seems to have an independent mind. I kind of like renegades like him.'"

More recent items on Hagel here and here.