The collective uncertainty afflicting Republicans over the 2008 presidential race reached almost surreal levels yesterday when one potential candidate staged a press conference to tell the world he might stand or, then again, might not.

Reporters flew half-way across America and television news channels went live to Omaha, Nebraska for what his local newspaper described as “the most important announcement” of Senator Chuck Hagel’s political career.

For the previous 20 candidates who have either declared they are running for president - or expressed an interest in doing so - such a billing for press conferences has become standard code for their entry into the race.

By yesterday morning, pundits were whipping themselves into a lather of excitement over the likely candidacy of Mr Hagel, a telegenic decorated Vietnam veteran with impeccable social conservative credentials who has the added allure - to independent voters at least - of being one of the Iraq war’s most prominent Republican critics.

But when the cameras went live, Mr Hagel stood at the podium at the University of Nebraska to announce that he wanted to give “succinct, direct, complete answers - what I’m known for”, before declaring: “I’m here today to announce that my family and I will make a decision on my political future later this year.” His public indecision reflects that of his party nationally which, despite having no less than ten candidates running and at least two more waiting in the wings, has failed to coalesce as it usually does around a frontrunner.

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, has established a clear lead in opinion polls. But doubts persist as to whether this can be sustained when voters become more aware of his liberal stance on social issues such as abortion, gay rights and gun control, as well as his own combustible personality and chequered private life.

John McCain appears to be caught between two stools: attracting suspicion among conservative Republicans for his maverick past while dimming his star among moderates by seeking to be the “establishment candidate” tied closely to President Bush policies in Iraq.

Mitt Romney, the last of the “Big Three” candidates is similarly accused of “flip-flopping” on social issues as he tries to strengthen his appeal to the Christian right-wingers hostile to his Mormonism.

Mr Hagel is among a group of potential Republican candidates who will spend the next few months testing political waters to see if there is room for a late entrant. Others include Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who continues to score highly in opinion polls, and ex-Senator Fred Thompson, a well-known supporting actor who has already played the role of president in movies. All have strongly conservative views on social issues.

The Democrats, by contrast, have seen their field of candidates contract in recent weeks as attention focuses on Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards, all candidates with strong and varying appeal to the party’s grassroots.

A series of potential rivals such as John Kerry, Mark Warner, Evan Bayh and Tom Vilsack have refused to enter the race - or pulled out - because any sources of money and publicity are being sucked dry.

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