Rob Portman's departure as President Bush's budget director "paves the way for the Ohio Republican to mount a gubernatorial campaign in 2010 or a race for the U.S. Senate in 2012," the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "Those were two possibilities Portman said he is seriously considering."
Said Portman: "I'm going to look at the options... focusing on the possibility of 2010. I also would be looking at 2012," noting that leaving the White House "will enable me to be able to do more politically."
"Portman already has been making the rounds... And, Portman already has about $1.5 million in his campaign account, which has been frozen since he joined the administration two years ago.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2007/06/20/whats_next_for_portman.htmlPortman could run for an open seat in 2010 if George Voinovich rertires or challenge Sherrod Brown in 2012.
