Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska became the nation's most prominent Republican officeholder to publicly question whether Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has the experience to serve as president.

"She doesn't have any foreign policy credentials," Hagel said in an interview published Thursday by the Omaha World-Herald. "You get a passport for the first time in your life last year? I mean, I don't know what you can say."

Could Palin lead the country if GOP presidential nominee John McCain could not? "I think it's a stretch to, in any way, to say that she's got the experience to be president," he said.

McCain and other Republicans have defended Palin's qualifications, citing Alaska's proximity to Russia. Palin told ABC News, "They're our next-door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska."

Hagel took issue with that. "I think they ought to be just honest about it and stop the nonsense about, 'I look out my window and I see Russia and so therefore I know something about Russia,'" he said. "That kind of thing is insulting to the American people."

Hagel, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a vocal critic of the Bush administration since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

PALIN'S HUSBAND REFUSES TO TESTIFY

Palin's husband has refused to testify in the ethics investigation of his wife, and a key lawmaker said Thursday that uncooperative witnesses are effectively sidetracking the inquiry until after Election Day.

Todd Palin, who participates in state business in person or by e-mail, was among 13 people subpoenaed by the Alaska Legislature. McCain-Palin presidential campaign spokesman Ed O'Callaghan said Thursday that Todd Palin would not appear, because he no longer believes the investigation is legitimate.