UPDATE 3:25 p.m. Jan. 27, 2011:
As expected, Talent has announced that he will not run for Senate in 2012. He shared the news with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch today.
UPDATE 10:53 a.m. Jan. 26, 2011:
Another Republican, Ed Martin, also seems to be considering a Senate run. In a statement released today, Martin commented on his possible candidacy in reaction to watching President Obama's State of the Union Address last night:
"After listening to a fresh wish list of expensive boondoggles, my wife Carol and I are considering a run for Senate very seriously." - Ed Martin
Martin lost his bid for the House of Representatives 3rd Congressional District in the 2010 midterm elections to Democrat Russ Carnahan.
Original Story:
Former U.S. Senator Missouri Republican Jim Talent is expected to announce soon that he will not be pursing another election bid to get back to the Senate, according to POLITICO's David Catanese.
Catanese explains the implications of Talent's pending announcement:
"[Talent's] move to pass on the contest removes the prohibitive front runner from the race while simultaneously boosting the prospects of former state treasurer Sarah Steelman, who jolted the field by jumping into the campaign on Dec. 1."
Ann Wagner, who failed to land the top job in the Republican National Committee may also be flirting with a Senate run, Catanese says.
