Former Lt. Gov. Norton mulling U.S. Senate bid (CO)

Former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton will decide in 30 days whether to run for the U.S. Senate.

If she does, Norton will join an already crowded list of Republicans vying for the nomination and the chance to knock off U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Denver, in 2010.

"She's seriously considering it, and she'll make a decision in 30 days," her husband, Mike Norton, said today.

Norton served as Gov. Bill Owens' lieutenant governor in his second term, beginning in 2003. In his first term, she ran the state Department of Public Health and Environment.

Owens was term limited in 2006 and Republicans urged her to run for governor, but she declined.

"Jane has served Colorado well," Owens said. "I hope her days of public service are not over."

Norton, 54, serves as executive director of the Denver Police Foundation, which raises funds to assist public safety and law enforcement.

Jennifer Duffy, who tracks U.S. Senate races for The Cook Political Report in Washington, said Norton has run statewide, which "puts her a few rungs up" over the two leading Republican candidates, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck and Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier.

http://www.denverpost.com/election/ci_13146452