Rosen ponders political plans for 2010

State Sen. Julie Rosen has been generating a lot of speculation lately about her political plans for 2010. Both the governor’s race and the post held by U.S. Rep. Tim Walz have been mentioned as possible targets for the Republican from Fairmont. Right now, however, Rosen’s not committing to either contest.

“I still think it’s a little early,” she says. “I haven’t really given it too much serious thought. I’m concentrating on just completing my job in the Senate.”

But she certainly sounds like a politician with ambitions beyond her current post. Rosen touts her background as an agronomist, her work on the health-care issues at the Capitol and the fact that she’s a woman as political assets.

“I would be a very formidable candidate against Walz,” she says. “If I decided to run I’d work like a banshee.”

She argues that the two-term Democrat is out of touch with the First Congressional District on issues such as health care reform and cap-and-trade legislation. Despite the fact that Walz won re-election by 30 points in 2008, she believes he’s vulnerable.

“I don’t think I would be even entertaining the thought if I thought he was serving us correctly in all areas,” she says.

So does that mean Rosen’s leaning toward the First District instead of a run at the state’s top elected office? Not necessarily.

“I don’t have a preference one over the other,” she says.

The gubernatorial field already includes nine GOP challengers. And at least two other Republicans — Allen Quist and Jim Hagedorn — are already eyeing a Walz challenge. But Rosen insists that she doesn’t feel any pressure to settle on her plans (if any) for 2010.

“I think the decision will come in the proper time,” she says. “It will all work out if it’s supposed to.”