Ending months of rumors about whether he would seek a new term, Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi announced over the weekend that he would indeed run for re-election. After just an eight-point win in his initial bid in 1996, Enzi won re-election easily in 2002 against an opponent who spent just $8,000. This year, he has yet to draw a credible Democratic challenger.

Enzi was not a sure bet to run, though, after Senate Republican leaders bypassed him a second time for a seat on the Senate Finance Committee. Instead of to Enzi, the ranking Republican on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell instead John Sununu, a freshman who faces a difficult re-election bid this year.

Many saw Enzi's lackluster fundraising as a sign that he would retire instead of seek a third term. Through March, Enzi had raised $760,000, $193,000 in the First Quarter, and kept $647,000 in the bank. In truth, Enzi has never been a strong fundraiser, and he doesn't have to be in inexpensive Wyoming. He spent $953,000 on his 1996 race and $884,000 in 2002. Most of his contributions this year have come from political action committees; Enzi has raised just $79,000 from individual donors, his FEC reports show.

Wyoming lacks a deep Democratic bench, but two candidates are running against Enzi's junior colleague, Senator John Barrasso. Barrasso was appointed by Governor Dave Freudenthal to fill the unexpired term of Craig Thomas, who passed away after a bout with cancer last year. Barrasso will run for the final four years of Thomas' term, making Wyoming and Mississippi the two states where both Senators will appear side by side on the ballot this year.