Missouri Republican Jim Talent will not run for his old Senate seat next year:
“I’ve been very gratified by the support and encouragement I’ve received to run again for the United States Senate. That has made it a very difficult decision, but I’ve decided that the best way I can serve my country and my family is to continue the national security work in which I have been engaged for the last four years.
“During that time, I’ve been a distinguished fellow for military affairs at the Heritage Foundation, Vice Chairman of the Graham/Talent Commission on WMD Terrorism, a Member of the Perry/Hadley Independent Panel reviewing the Department of Defense’s strategic plan, a member of the senior Executive Panel advising the Chief of Naval Operations, and an adviser on national security to Governor Mitt Romney. In those roles, I have been a leader in protecting the defense budget against harmful cuts, supporting missile defense and promoting programs that will deter WMD Terrorism, and I believe continuing that focus is the best way I can help the country.
Therefore I do not intend to be a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012.
At this point, the only Republican who has filed the papers to run against Sen. Claire McCaskill is Sarah Steelman.