Ensign on possible GOP primary in 2012: 'I don't worry about any of that stuff'

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) told reporters in Reno, Nev., on Wednesday that he's readying for what he expects will be a tough reelection battle in 2012, acknowledging he faces a "very, very difficult" road ahead.

According to The Associated Press, Ensign said he's in the process of putting together a campaign team and jump-starting his fundraising operation. He emphasized he isn't concerned about the prospect of a primary challenge from Rep. Dean Heller. 

"I don't worry about any of that stuff," Ensign said of the potential for a GOP primary. "All that will take care of itself. I just have to worry about doing my job." 

Ensign pledged to work hard to win back the trust of Nevada voters and expressed confidence they would ultimately look past the scandal over his affair with a former campaign aide. 

"I'm telling you, you guys are the ones talking about this stuff," Ensign told reporters Wednesday. "When I'm out there, people don't talk to me about it." 

Last month, the Department of Justice dropped its probe of Ensign over allegations that a cover-up of the affair was at work in a $96,000 payment from Ensign's parents to his former mistress. The Federal Election Commission also dropped an investigation into the matter late last year. 

Ensign on Wednesday also dismissed a recent poll from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling, which showed him trailing every potential Democratic challenger in hypothetical general election match ups. The same poll showed Heller beating every potential Democratic Senate hopeful.

"When you saw Harry Reid ahead of his election, what kind of numbers did he have? Against every Republican he was down double-digits," Ensign said. "The last time I checked he won by over 5 percentage points." 

New Tuesday numbers from Public Policy showed Heller well ahead of Ensign in a potential primary match up.

Heller also spoke to reporters at the same event Wednesday in Reno and said he's still weighing a run for the seat.  

On the Democratic side, the most likely candidate appears to be Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), who said earlier this week that she won't make a final decision on whether or not to jump into the race until late spring or early summer. 

---