Blunt's announcement comes just a few weeks after Senator Kit Bond said he would not seek a fifth term in 2010.

"I'm seriously looking at it, and really that's as far as I can go, because that's where I am," said Blunt in a news conference Friday.

If Blunt ultimately makes a U.S. Senate run official, as many political observers believe he will, he'll immediately be considered a frontrunner in the Republican primary to replace Bond.

But fresh off a bruising primary race for Governor, Grand Old Party leaders are working behind the scenes to winnow the field and avoid another bruising inner-party pounding.

It may be impossible to avoid. Former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman has said she's also seriously contemplating a run. Despite her narrow primary loss to Kenny Hulshof in August, her supporters believe her outsider status would contrast well against Blunt, an establishment figure.

KY3 News has learned that Steelman will fly to Washington next week to meet with the Senate G.O.P's campaign chair about a possibly candidacy.

Former Senator Jim Talent is said to still be feeling out his options, although some believe he'll defer this round for a re-match with Senator Claire McCaskill in 2012.

Blunt is still in the early stages, and says he has no timeline for a decision. But on Friday, he hinted why he might do it.

"There is more focus on the fight in the Senate because the minority in the Senate has a bigger voice than the minority in the House, that's a reason to go," Blunt said.