Chuck Hagel's non-announcement was smart politics. Although Hagel is someone I really dislike and probably would not vote for, this was a shrewd move. If he got in the race now, he would have little chance of winning. However, adding a level of intrigue and speculation about his candidacy makes it more appealing. Additionally, who knows how the war will go in the next six months, perhaps there will be a draft Hagel movement at some point. I am betting that this will not be the case, but you never know.