The Chronicle reprints a Washington Post story on Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel (R), who is apparently “thinking seriously” about running for President in 2008.
Hagel is the sort of Republican who impresses some Democrats with his occasional “contrarian” views, but he is little known within his own party, does not seem all that enamored of trying to appeal to the sorts of voters who decide Republican primaries, and is notably lacking charisma.
So, why tie up column space to (re)print this story? There’s no local connection. 2008 is far away, and people are still suffering from election fatigue. And at this point, the Senator seems more popular among journalists than among the grassroots.
Oh, wait — I seem to have answered my question.
