Hawaii GOP Gov. Lingle says she'll look at Senate race in 2012

Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle (R) suggested that she would look seriously at running for running for Senate in 2012.

Lingle, the relatively popular two-term GOP governor of a traditionally Democratic state, said she would "take a serious look" at running in two years for the seat currently held by 86-year-old Sen. Daniel Akaka (D).

"I will likely take a look at the 2012 senate race here in Hawaii. You know that is when the seat comes up. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D) would have to run again in 2012," Lingle told KITV in Hawaii. "So I will take a serious look at that office at that time, and depending on where the public is and what they feel about me at the time. It is something that would interest me."

Lingle would be seen as a top-tier recruit who would give Republicans one of their best shots at winning a Hawaii Senate seat, both of which have been long held by the state's two Democratic senators.

In the meanwhile, between the time in which Lingle leaves office in December and 2012, she said she'd work on behalf of national Republican candidates.

"I will likely be involved with Republican politics on a national level in the presidential race in 2012, trying to make certain that we can elect a leader for America who's going to get the economy back on track in a way that I believe encourages business," she said.

Hat tip: Senatus