Washington – U.S. Rep. Mark Udall inched closer Monday to officially declaring his Senate candidacy – filing papers to turn his House re-election campaign fund into a cache for the statewide seat.
“This is a confirmation, a very important first step in making real my intention,” the Democrat from Eldorado Springs said.
Udall’s re-election campaign took in nearly $324,000 in the first quarter of the year and ended March with $1.5 million, the most recent federal election filing shows.
Udall will need millions more in the 2008 race to replace Sen. Wayne Allard, who is retiring. In the 2004 Senate race, winning Democrat Ken Salazar spent $10 million and Republican Pete Coors spent $8 million.
Thus far, there are no declared Republican candidates.
State Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams said the person most strongly considering a run is former Congressman Bob Schaffer.
Other names that have been mentioned include state Attorney General John Suthers, radio host Dan Caplis, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Bentley Rayburn and former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton.
– Anne C. Mulkern
