I’ll never have much of a career as a prognosticator. I think I’ve gotten three predictions right in the last several years, including Barack Obama’s entry into the Presidential race, and Jon Bruning’s preemptive challenge of Hagel.

But Chuck Hagel puts a whole new level of strangeness into the discussion. At this point, there’s no telling what’s going through his mind. Which is why this article from Bloomberg News is so bizarre:

Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska said he would consider entering the 2008 presidential campaign as an independent.

An independent bid “is possible,” Hagel, 60, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt,” scheduled to air today. “I don’t ever foreclose any options.” He will decide in the next few months whether to run for a third Senate term, pursue the presidency or leave politics altogether, he said.

I ran through all of the reasons why I think Chuck Hagel’s running for reelection last week. While I’m not quite ready to back off that prediction (Mitch McConnell showing up at a fundraiser for Hagel is a huge red flag for me), there are a number of things that popped up recently that fly directly in its face:

• The above interview with Hagel, where he directly states he would consider an independent bid for President.
• A high-profile meeting with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, often mentioned as a potential independent candidate for President.
• Increased rumors that Bob Kerrey is interested in running for Senate.
• Tony Raimondo’s sudden interest in running for Senate. (Leavenworth Street seems to think that he might run as a Democrat. To which I say: we don’t want him.)

What does it all mean? At this point, I have no idea. I’ve given up on trying to predict what Hagel’s going to do. This is going to be a fun race to watch, no matter what happens. And it is, without a doubt, the single most important race in Nebraska in 2008. We need to be ready for it.