Suthers still weighing 2010 senate run

Attorney General John Suthers says he'll decide by the end of the month on whether or not to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010.

"I'm taking a very serious look at it," Suthers, a Republican, said Thursday. "I've given myself kind of an end-of-the-month drop-dead date, because of the money that needs to be raised. You can't sit around for very long."

The Senate campaign in 2010 is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars, but Republicans consider the seat to be very much in play due to Gov. Bill Ritter's unexpected appointment of Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet, who is not widely known outside of Denver.

If he announces this month, Suthers will be the first Republican to formally toss his hat into the ring. Other possible candidates for the GOP nomination include former state treasurer Mark Hillman, former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo and former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis.

Suthers was first appointed to the attorney general's office by then-Gov. Bill Owens in January 2005. He was elected in 2006.