By Thomas Ferraro WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, an outspoken critic of the Iraq war, announced on Monday he will not seek re-election, raising a new hurdle to his battered party's bid to win back control of the Senate next year. Hagel, 60, who earlier flirted with a possible 2008 run for the White House, also ended speculation he may seek the presidency or vice presidency next year. "I said after I was elected in 1996 that 12 years in the Senate would probably be enough. It is," Hagel told a news conference in Omaha, Nebraska. "I will not seek a third term in the United States Senate, nor do I intend to be a candidate for any office in 2008," said Hagel, who has been mentioned as a possible candidate on an independent ticket with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Hagel's announcement was another setback for President George W. Bush's Republicans in their bid to regain control of the U.S. Senate, now narrowly controlled by Democrats, 51-49. Of the 34 of the 100 Senate seats up for election next year, 22 are now held by Republicans, 12 by Democrats. Earlier this year, Republican Sens. John Warner of Virginia, who has also questioned some of Bush's Iraq policies, and Wayne Allard of Colorado announced they would not seek re-election. Republican Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho, who pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after being snared in an undercover gay sex probe, has said he intends to resign at the end of this month unless he can quickly clear his name. His attorney filed court papers on Monday to try to withdraw Craig's guilty plea. The resignations would create new opportunities for Democrats but no guarantees of picking up seats next year. Republicans, who have long portrayed themselves as the party of conservative family values, lost control of the U.S. Congress last year in part because of a series of scandals and have been hit by more this year. Republican Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana was linked to an escort service and federal agents raided the home of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska as part of a corruption probe. Amid such headlines, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has raised more money than its Republican counterpart. Polls show public discontent with Congress, but they also find Americans still prefer Democrats over Republicans. "Republicans have taken one hit after another this year," said Jennifer Duffy of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, adding that Democrats seem positioned to increase their Senate majority in 2008. The chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, said the party was committed to keeping Hagel's seat "and will work vigorously to ensure a strong candidate is selected."
