Hagel Looking To Run?

On March 14, Nebraska Republican Senator Chuck Hagel will be one of three Republican and six Democratic presidential contenders to speak to the International Association of Fire Fighters. On March 28 Hagel will join six Democratic candidates speaking before the Building and Construction Trades Department, an alliance of craft unions.

Hagel's decision to speak to the two labor groups makes him look a little less undecided about mounting a Presidential campaign.

There has been speculation that Hagel might run on a so-called fusion ticket. But at The RealClearPolitics Blog, Tom Bevan posts this quote from Senator Hagel:

Q: Would you give any consideration to running as an Independent?
HAGEL: Well, if I seek the Presidency, I would seek it as a Republican. Where all this is going to go and how it ends up next year, whether that's possible for an Independent to be elected President, maybe. Maybe it would be. But, right now, I'd be focused on seeking the Republican nomination.

Hagel plans to make his long-awaited announcement about his political future on Monday. He has scheduled a news conference at 10 a.m., two days before he is scheduled to appear at the International Association of Fire Fighters' annual meeting.

Will he run for president, reelection to the Senate, or retire? I say he is going to make a presidential run.