2 Possible Minn. GOP Candidates For Senate Emerge

ST. PAUL (AP) - Two Minnesota Republicans who ran on the party's statewide ticket last fall are weighing whether to jump into a 2012 Senate campaign that so far lacks any declared GOP candidates.

The party's nominees for attorney general and secretary of state are considering taking on Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Lawyer Chris Barden said Tuesday that he's been approached about running after an unsuccessful bid for attorney general. An adviser to Dan Severson of Sauk Rapids says the secretary of state candidate expects to decide in May if he'll jump in.

In contrast to recent Senate races in Minnesota, the 2012 race has been slow to take shape. Several big-name Republicans have ruled out campaigns.

Klobuchar won the seat in a 2006 blowout and has $2.5 million stockpiled already.