The World-Herald chimes in:

WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Hagel says there’s no truth to a published report Tuesday that he has assured GOP leaders he will seek re-election to the Senate in 2008.

The Nebraska Republican said he has made no decision on that, on running for president, or on retiring.

[...] And in Nebraska, said U.S. Rep. Lee Terry, “There are people that are anxiously awaiting Chuck’s decision because it affects their decision to run for a Senate seat, or not.”

So Terry, who’s giving the Senate some thought, was among those taking note Tuesday of a story that appeared in the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call.

It quoted an unnamed GOP operative in Washington as saying Hagel had told the National Republican Senatorial Committee that he would seek re-election in 2008 – although that doesn’t mean he’s decided not to launch a White House bid.

Hagel said the story was wrong.

“I have not made any decision; I’ve told no one of any of my decisions; my wife doesn’t know of my decisions,” he said. “I have never spoken to anyone at the Republican Senate campaign committee about what I am going to do.”

They may hate him for his stance on Iraq, but the national Republicans recognize one thing: if Chuck Hagel runs for Senate in 2008, he will win. If he doesn’t, there’s a very good chance that a Democratic candidate will win. Nebraska Republicans like Lee Terry and Hal Daub are eager to make a run for his seat, and Jon Bruning has all but announced his run, but as Ryan notes, the choices on the Republican side are less than inspiring.

Say what you will about Hagel – and I can say a lot – but he’s a skilled politician. He also has a significant hold on the Nebraska Republican Party, cemented by Dave Heineman’s victory in the May 2006 gubernatorial primary. Bruning, who is trying to position himself as the frontrunner, endorsed Osborne in the primary – something I’m sure that Hagel and Heineman won’t forget.

We should be hearing a decision from Hagel soon, and signs seem to point to a run for President. If he does decide to run for President, expect to see the Republican field mobilize and take shape in the next few months. And we’ll see if Mayor Fahey or Scott Kleeb wants to give it a shot.