Published Friday | August 24, 2007
Kerrey says he may be leaning toward Senate bid
BY JAKE THOMPSON
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

WASHINGTON — Former Sen. Bob Kerrey told trustees at his New York university Thursday that he is seriously considering running for the Senate again if Republican Chuck Hagel announces his retirement.

"I'd like the answer to be 'yes' or 'no' as close to when Chuck makes his decision," Kerrey said in an interview. "I wanted to let them know the answer might be yes."

Kerrey said he discussed the possibility of running for Hagel's seat with board members of the New School University, where he currently is president, because he expects that Hagel's decision on his own future could come soon.

Kerrey, a Democrat who served two terms in the Senate and one as Nebraska's governor, said the New School trustees understood why he is interested in possibly returning to public life. He said they hope he decides not to leave the university.

"The odds still favor me saying no," Kerrey said.

Hagel, a Republican, is expected to announce within weeks whether he will seek re-election in 2008, retire from politics or possibly run for president.

Kerrey, a fellow Vietnam combat veteran and a friend of Hagel's, said the Republican hasn't told him what his plans are or when he might announce them.

Several signs suggest that Hagel might be leaning toward retirement.

He raised just $387,000 toward re-election during the second quarter of this year. His usually busy political action committee, Sandhills PAC, reported having only $6,273 in cash on hand in its most recent statement. Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, who is seeking the GOP Senate nomination, this week told supporters in a letter that he raised more than $728,000 in the past three months.

However, Hagel has offered no public clues about his plans.

Kerrey said he finds it strange to see Hagel in the same position that he was in seven years ago — deciding whether to stay in politics or turn to private life.

A colorful maverick, Kerrey has been flirting for several months with running if Hagel bows out. He paid for a survey to test support for a possible bid, and in June he spoke to about 500 Democrats at a party fundraising dinner in Omaha.

When he announced his retirement from the Senate in 2000, Kerrey said he had prepared two speeches. The one he didn't give said his sense of duty overrode his desire for a private life.

Since then, he said, he has enjoyed private life and running a university. He lives not far from the New School in New York City with his wife, Sarah, and his son, Henry, 5, who will attend public school this fall.

If he were to win election again, Kerrey said, he suffers no illusion that he'd be happier than he is now.

"It's not about happiness," Kerrey said. "It's about does the country need me to try?"

Kerrey said he has been giving serious thought to the race because he thinks he could contribute to shaping American policies on national security, intelligence, trade and entitlement programs, such as Social Security and Medicare.

A friend recently said to him, "'Isn't one leg and 16 years enough?'" Kerrey recalled, referring to his Vietnam War wounds and his political tenure.

"The answer is no, sadly," Kerrey said.

If Hagel decides not to seek re-election, Kerrey said he will announce his own plans soon after. He has talked the matter over with his wife and would decide with her, he said.

"In some ways, it's not a difficult decision. It's just, do I want to do it?"

Contact the Omaha World-Herald newsroom

Interesting experience behind this guy, too. For one thing, he served on the 911 Commission and was privy to many, many secrets that the rest of us were/are not.

Another thought:

If Hillary becomes President then Bob Kerrey could run for the NY senate seat vacated -- only positive I can see of a possible Hillary win.



lenal

Better he should run in Nebraska where a Dem has a harder chance of winning. NY is easy pickings.

It's now confirmed Hagel to retire on Monday looks like this is Kerrey's seat.

Bob Kerrey is one flawed person if you ask me (but nobody is asking)

Didn't he MURDER IN COLD BLOOD an entire village back in Vietnam of innocent human beings?
And conviently forget about it for two decades?
Shouldn't he have been CHARGED WITH WAR CRIMES for doing so?

And being on the 9-11 commission means he is part of it, like every single other member

And I think, after they assassassinated JFK Jr. to put Hillary in, New York should beware of other interlopers, when there are plenty of decent New Yorkers who could take the seat

Hey, there is a bulbous nose white hair sex-freak who infiltrated, then ruined the Democratic party who could fill in for his wife, when ya's think about it

And don't you think Robert Kennedy Jr. should be the one who actually should take the seat in New York state?.

(now if you wanna bring back a great guy, retire that stroke victim Johnson, and let Daschle take his seat in SD).
Then give Dick Gephardt a job too, not to mention Bob Graham.

Let's not though recycle people who should not have been there in the first place

Where do i sign Bobby Kennedy Jr for senate i'll take that any day of the week and i agree with you also on Kerrey graham he's got some flaws and isn't that type of progressive candidate i'm looking for to win the senate seat in Nebraska.