While Hagel’s conservative voting record would need to be emphasized, and contrasted with the rest of the field’s flip-flopping, he could never get away (nor do I think he’d be inclined to try). Like McCain, his social conservatism is of the staid and non-fire-breathing sort, and not what gets him going. However unlike McCain, he’s never (that I know of) done anything to make anyone question his conservative credentials in that sense (other than for those who need someone driven by that stuff, and who would question his past support for McCain when he clearly was distancing himself).

Still Thompson definitely is the best positioned to fill that niche if he runs, given his Southern background and lack of visibility as a Bush critic. But otherwise, so long as he doesn’t unnaturally overplay his hand the way McCain has, Hagel could have a good thought here (and clearly, from this, if he ran it would be to win rather than make a point).

There is room for only one true conservative to make a run at the top. And Thompson is better positioned than Hagel (or Gingrich) to make that run.