GOP senator's wife donates to Obama

Wife of Republican war opponent Chuck Hagel donates to Obama campaign

Sens. John McCain and Chuck Hagel have long been friends. Fellow Republicans and Vietnam War veterans, their Senate offices are just across the hall from each other.

But at least during the presidential primary, Hagel's wife, Lilibet, is helping McCain's likely Democratic rival, Barack Obama.

According to Federal Election Commission records, Mrs. Hagel donated twice to Obama's campaign in February for a total contribution of $500. The contributions were first reported by the Washington Post

The contribution came a month before Sen. Hagel, a sharp GOP critic of the war in Iraq, appeared on ABC's "This Week" and declared that he and McCain have "pretty fundamental disagreements on the future of foreign policy."

But Mrs. Hagel is acting on her own, said Mike Buttry, Sen. Hagel's chief of staff. In fact, Mrs. Hagel has contributed to a Democrat before. Last August, she donated $250 to Niki Tsongas, a Democrat and widow of Sen. Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts who was running to fill a vacant House seat from the state.

"Mrs. Hagel is a private citizen who is entitled to decide who she supports and how she supports them," Buttry said in a statement. "She has admired Mrs. Tsongas for many years, going back to the time when she was married to Senator Tsongas."

He added: "Senator Hagel has not endorsed or supported any candidate in the presidential race."

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