Paul Ryan Will Decide This Week On Senate Run

Paul Ryan Will Decide This Week On Senate Run

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Sunday that he will decide this week whether he plans to run for the Senate seat that Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) will vacate in 2012.

Kohl announced on Friday that he will retire at the end of his current term, creating a flurry of speculation over who will run to replace him. Ryan, who has become a national figure as the leader of the House Republicans’ budget effort, is considered a possible front-runner for the Republican nomination in the state.

"I plan on making an announcement very quickly," he said on on CNN’s “State of the Union." "But we're just beginning this process."

On Friday, Ryan told reporters he wanted to “stick with” thanking Kohl for his service and declined to discuss his future plans. He offered few hints about whether he would run during his Sunday appearance, but said he was considering it.

“Herb just announced this Friday,” he said. “It was a bit of a surprise to all of us. So my family and voters just started digesting this."

On the Democratic side, Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) will likely run for the seat, according to an adviser. Some Democratic operatives are also pushing for former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), who was defeated by Republican Ron Johnson in 2010, to run for the seat.

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