Udall’s Senate Ambition Secret Is Out

ABC News’ Matthew Zavala Reports: Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., officially filed paperwork to run for the open Senate seat in Colorado that is being vacated by Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.

Allard is sticking to a two-term limit pledge and Udall has raised $1.5 million for his 2008 effort to turn Colorado’s red Senate seat blue.

In 2004, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., spent $10 million to beat Republican beer mogul Pete Coors.  Udall said that he expects to need at least that much, but analysts suggest $20 million may be a safer bet.

Udall, who is serving his fifth term in Congress, represents a Democratic-leaning swath of Colorado including the northwest suburbs of Denver, site of the Democratic convention next year.

Possible Republican contenders for the open seat include former Congressman Bob Schaffer and Attorney General John Suthers; Senator Salazar’s brother, Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., has not indicated any plans for pursuing what would be a potentially historic bid for the Senate; instead Salazar will likely focus on winning reelection to a third term in the House.