United States Senate

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U.S. Senate candidate and Former Virginia governor George Allen (R)speaks to reporters following the first debate of the 2012 campaign against U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Kaine (D), also a Former Virginia governor, at the annual AP Day at the Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, VA, Wednesday, December 7, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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U.S. Senate candidate and Former Virginia governor Tim Kaine (D) speaks to reporters following the first debate of the 2012 campaign against U.S. Senate Candidate George Allen (R), also a Former Virginia governor, at the annual AP Day at the Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, VA, Wednesday, December 7, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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U.S. Senate candidate Jamie Radtke (R), left, talks with supporter Tommy Moser, right, of Rockingham County, VA at a protest outside a debate between Former Virginia governors and current U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine (D) and George Allen (R), which third party candidates were excluded from participating at the Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, VA, Wednesday, December 7, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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A group of Tea Party activists and supporters of U.S. Senate candidate Jamie Radtke (R) protest outside a debate between Former Virginia governors and current U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine (D) and George Allen (R), which third party candidates were excluded from participating at the Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, VA, Wednesday, December 7, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Former Virginia governors and current U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine (D), not shown, and George Allen (R), pictured, have their first debate for the 2012 campaign held at the annual AP Day at the Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, VA, Wednesday, December 7, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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U.S. Senate candidate and Former Virginia governor Tim Kaine (D) speaks during the first debate of the 2012 campaign against U.S. Senate Candidate George Allen (R), also a Former Virginia governor, at the annual AP Day at the Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, VA, Wednesday, December 7, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Former Virginia governors and current U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine (D), second from right, and George Allen (R), second from left, approach their podiums for their first debate for the 2012 campaign held at the annual AP Day at the Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, VA, Wednesday, December 7, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Former Virginia governors and current U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine (D), right, and George Allen (D), left, wait in the hallway before beginning their first debate for the 2012 campaign held at the annual AP Day at the Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, VA, Wednesday, December 7, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Former Virginia governors and current U.S. Senate candidates Tim Kaine (D), right, and George Allen (R), left, greet each other in the hallway before beginning their first debate for the 2012 campaign held at the annual AP Day at the Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, VA, Wednesday, December 7, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Rep. Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Democrat, appears to have an opening for the U.S. Senate primary now that former Sen. Russ Feingold has bowed out. (Associated Press)

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Tea party leader Jamie Radtke, a Republican from Chesterfield County, Va., trails in polls and fundraising but thinks she can beat George Allen in the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat. (Pratik Shah/The Washington Times)

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U.S. Senate candidate George Allen

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ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS His current position "allows me to have a greater impact in averting this debt-fueled economic crisis than if I were to run for the United States Senate," said Rep. Paul Ryan (top). His decision clears the way for former Gov. Tommy Thompson (above).

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Now that he is running for the U.S. Senate, former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, is facing questions about his decision last year to send a double-murderer to his native Germany. The order was rescinded by his GOP successor. (Associated Press)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Retired Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, here testifying on Capitol Hill in 2004, is considering a run for the U.S. Senate from Texas.

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Scott Brown won the U.S. Senate seat held for nearly 50 years by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy and the Democrats would dearly love to win it back in 2012 but no one has stepped forward as a candidate. Mr. Brown has cast himself as a moderate, seeking to appeal to independents and conservative Democrats. (Associated Press)