Hagel, Gingrich and Thompson Mulling '08 Bid

Republican presidential hopefuls should sharpen their elbows: Three more potential rivals are poised to jump in, clearly smelling opportunity.

Sen. Chuck Hagel, former Senator and actor Fred Thompson and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich are all considering entering the Republican field for the 2008 race.

(ABCNews.com)

"Not everybody is thrilled about the choices they have before them," said Republican strategist Rich Galen.

Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and former Tennessee senator and current "Law and Order" star Fred Thompson are all considering throwing their hats into the ring.

Hagel will make an announcement about his political future today in Omaha; most expect he'll join the race.

He would be a unique voice in the race -- the conservative senator and Vietnam vet has been a consistent and open critic of President Bush's handling of the Iraq War.

Looking for Options

In a political confessional late last week, Gingrich made plain that he was contemplating a bid.

In an attempt to test the waters, he admitted to social conservative James Dobson that he was involved in an extramarital affair as he led the effort to impeach President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

"There were times when I was praying and when I felt that I was doing things that were wrong, but I was still doing them," Gingrich told Dobson. "And I look back at those as periods of weakness."

Like Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, Gingrich has been divorced twice, which also could hurt him with religious conservatives, but he still scores high in polls among Republican hopefuls.

"Some times people get into a race like this just to make sure their point of view is given full voice. I think that is one of those things that we may be seeing from Gingrich. He wants to, as he would put it, shape the debate," Galen said.

Finally, popular conservative and actor Thompson suggested on Fox News that he might again trade in the Hollywood life for politics.

"I am giving some thought to it, going to leave the door open," Thompson said.

Thompson says he's been getting a lot of pressure from top Tennessee Republicans because they are looking for something different.

A number of conservatives seem unhappy with Giuliani, Sen. John McCain, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Sunday on ABC News' "This Week," former senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole told George Stephanopolous that the Republican field might need "more focus."

"I think the people who are dissatisfied may be the more conservative Republicans who don't. … They're not quite certain," Dole said.