Chuck Hagel feeds Obama VP speculation
There has been widespread speculation in recent weeks that Barack Obama might tap Republican Senator Chuck Hagel as a vice-presidential running mate on a bipartisan ticket.
Hagel, a social conservative but a sharp critic of the Iraq War, has fueled the speculation by his positive statements about Obama and reluctance to endorse McCain.
CNN's John Roberts put the question to Hagel directly on Tuesday, saying, "A lot of people are talking about the fact that you would make a terrific vice-presidential running mate for Barack Obama. ... If he asked you to be his running mate, would you say yes?"
Hagel, who is retiring from the Senate at the end of this year, laughed and replied, "I don't expect to be on anybody's ticket this year. ... I'm going to go try to find some honest work and I don't speculate on anything."
"If he asks, would you say yes?" Roberts persisted.
"If he asks I'll let you know," Hagel replied.
Although a critic of the administration in some areas, by most standards Hagel would not appear to be a good fit for an Obama ticket. His voting record shows him to be anti-choice, anti-gay rights, anti-affirmative action, anti-environmental, pro-free trade, and in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy and privatizing Social Security.
This video is from CNN's American Morning, broadcast May 13, 2008.
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Transcript via closed captions
:: i have to ask you a question on an unrelated issue. a lot of people are talking about your retiring this year, a lot of people are talking about you would make a terrific running mate with barak obama. you bring independence in the door. he has talked about you as somebody he would like to have in his cabinet, if not you somebody like you. if he asked you to be his running mate, bow say yes?
:: john, i don't expect to be on anybody's ticket this year. i don't expect to be in anyone's government next year. i'm going to try to find some honest work and i don't speculate on anything, but i appreciate the question and thank you.
:: if he asked, would you say yes?
:: if he asked, i'll let you know.
:: senator hague old, great to see you, thanks.
:: thank you.
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