The text of a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press by Heidi Heitkamp, a former North Dakota Democratic attorney general, sent in response to questions about whether she is interested in running for the U.S. Senate to succeed incumbent Democrat Byron Dorgan.
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"I am flattered and grateful that so many people have urged me to run for the United States Senate. However, it is extremely premature for anyone to say that my decision is close to being made. In fact, the discussion has just begun.
I'm going to talk to my colleagues in the Democratic-NPL party about how we can field the very best candidate to follow in Byron Dorgan's footsteps. I'm going to talk to my family and friends of course, but this is a decision no one should make in haste.
Since leaving public life, I have had the great good fortune to beat the odds, survive breast cancer and continue my work for North Dakota as a private citizen. These have been good years for me and my family. I love North Dakota and North Dakotans. The idea of running for an office that would require me to spend so much time in Washington gives me great pause. The discussion about whether to take on a difficult campaign is very personal, and I can't have that discussion in the public arena."
--Heidi Heitkamp
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