Meet Bernie's likely repub opponent for 2012

Salmon "65 percent in" Vermont Senate race

Vermont Auditor Thomas Salmon says he's 65 percent sure he's running for U.S. Senate and plans to determine in the next few weeks whether he'll move forward with an exploratory committee in March.

Salmon, a former Democrat turned Republican, told POLITICO that first-term independent Sen. Bernie Sanders is "closer to meeting a challenge" and that he's undeterred by the long odds of a successful bid.

"Right now, I am 65 percent in. When I hit 75 percent it will commence exploratory. I plan to continue to listen to diverse groups, reflect, and ensure it is the right thing to do for self, family, state and country," said Salmon.

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Salmon doesn't appear to be under any illusion that he'll be anything but an underdog in a state where Sanders won with 65 percent of the vote and President Obama carried with 67 percent.

"I don't think people will articulate that Sanders is vulnerable, Obama or no Obama. They will continue to mark him safe. A year and a half from today may be a different story," he said.

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http://www.politico.com/blogs/davidcatanese/0111/Salmon_65_percent_in_Vermont_Senate_race.html?showall