THE UNBEARABLE LITENESS OF BEING CHUCK HAGEL:

Republicans Try To Recruit Nelson (Mark Preston, September 16, 2002 , Roll Call)

Stepping off the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) congratulated Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) for casting "a good vote" that helped scuttle a Democratic attempt to require Senate confirmation for President Bush's homeland security director.

It was the latest in a long list of votes where Nelson has sided with Republicans over his Democratic colleagues, but GOP leaders are not satisfied with the conservative Nebraskan's occasional support.

For nearly two years, Republican leaders have tried unsuccessfully to convince Nelson to switch parties.

"I think Ben is somebody who would be more comfortable on the Republican side - I really do," said Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.). "He is from a state that is pretty conservative and pretty Republican." [...]

Notably absent from the efforts to try to woo Nelson to the GOP is Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel (R), who defeated Nelson in the 1996 Senate race. Since then, the two Senators have had a frosty relationship and Hagel is a close ally of Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns (R), who is expected to challenge Nelson in 2006.

"Any casual observer would notice there is tension between the two of them," said one Senate source. "Considering Hagel's rocky relationship with the Republican leadership, it seems unlikely they would seek his help."

Deb Fiddelke, a spokeswoman for Hagel, said, "Senator Hagel has not been involved in that effort."

There are several interesting things here, beyond just the GOP efforts to woo Nelson and Zell Miller. First, Phil Gramm is a leader in the effort and it would mark a final, great service to a party and a country he's already served brilliantly many times. He will be missed greatly.
Posted by Orrin Judd at September 16, 2002 1:33 PM