Obama's Lieberman

By Ron Beasley

If this is true it's big:

Hagel to Join Obama on Iraq Trip

The buzz this week that Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska is planning to join Sen. Barack Obama on an up-coming visit to Iraq is correct, two sources with knowledge of the trip confirmed Friday.

[....]

While it is standard practice for such trips—known as CODELS, or congressional delegations—to be bipartisan, in this highly charged election year it is likely to raise eyebrows that the retiring Nebraskan senator—a prominent Iraq War critic—is the Republican expected to join the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee on what is sure to be a closely watched visit to the region.

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Sen. Hagel has not yet endorsed a candidate in the race, and he has offered kind words for both Obama and Republican rival Sen. John McCain, although the two Republicans differ greatly on the war.

Yes it's even bigger than the Lieberman McCain pairing as The National Journal's The Hot Line explains:

Hagel's decision to accompany Obama to Iraq is sure to irritate John McCain's camp. Much as news last week of Colin Powell's private meeting with the Dem nom must have. When high-profile Rs with much-balleyhooed foreign policy credentials flirt with an Obama endorsement they convey to the IL senator a credibility on national security matters that he needs to win over moderate voters.

Polls show that voters give McCain higher marks on foreign affairs/national security issues, while Obama wins out on who can bring change to Washington. McCain's chief strength, however, appears vulnerable when several respected party colleagues, vets to boot, express an interest in his Dem rival.

Both Hagel and Powell have more credibility among independents than Lieberman.  While I don't see Hagel as VP I could see him as Secretary of Defense in an Obama administration.