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Sunday, May 15, 2011 5:14 PM UTC

Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan mulling Senate bid

Author of controversial Medicare proposal could make decision as early as this week

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Topics: Paul Ryan, R-Wis., U.S. Senate,

Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan mulling Senate bidFILE - In this April 13, 2011 file photo, House Budget Committee Chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Unlikely as it may seem, President Barack Obama and Republicans in Congress actually do share some common ground on the need to curb Medicare costs. Embedded in both the House GOP plan to replace Medicare with a voucher-like system and in Obama's counter-proposal is the idea of putting a limit on the growth of the $500-billion program, and making sure it sticks. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) (Credit: AP)

Wisconsin Republican congressman Paul Ryan says he might decide as early as this week whether to run for Senate to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl.

Ryan is chairman of the powerful House Budget Committee.

Appearing Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Ryan said his family and supporters just started digesting the idea.

Other possible candidates include Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen, former Rep. Mark Neumann, who lost in the Republican gubernatorial primary last year, and a pair of brothers who lead the Wisconsin Legislature and are closely tied to Walker and his anti-union plan — Scott and Jeff Fitzgerald.

Kohl’s surprise retirement creates at least eight open seats that could help determine the balance of power in the Senate.

More Associated Press.

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