Hagel, Bruning (R-Ne) take different paths at Bellevue function

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

Published Sunday | May 20, 2007
Hagel, Bruning take different paths at Bellevue function
BY ROBYNN TYSVER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Chuck Hagel continued to hold his political cards close to the vest Saturday, while Jon Bruning laid his on the table at a gathering of state Republicans in Bellevue.

Bruning, the Nebraska attorney general, made it clear he has decided to run for the U.S. Senate, even if that means going head-to-head against Hagel in a GOP primary.

Hagel, who held an Omaha fundraiser the night before with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, did not talk about Bruning, his plans or the possibility that he could run for president as an independent.

Instead, the maverick Republican, who has angered some in the party with his criticism of President Bush's handling of the Iraq war, talked about his belief that the GOP has strayed from the path of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Dwight Eisenhower and that politicians must put country ahead of party.

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