Rep. Ralph Regula (R) is not doing much to tamp down retirement rumors.

Both Democrats and Republicans are keeping a close eye on the 82-year-old lawmaker.

Regula, who won an 18th term in November, raised only $1,560 in the first three months of the year, according to Federal Election Commission reports.

He still had a little more than $91,000 in cash on hand.

Earlier this year, a Regula spokeswoman said the World War II veteran has not yet made plans for 2008.

Recently, the National Republican Congressional Committee pointed to recent events as proof that Democrats and the White House (Regula was on Karl Rove’s retirement watch list that accidentally became public) are wrong about Regula.

He hosted an NRCC regional fundraising event, for example, a spokeswoman noted.

On Monday, Regula said he is moving ahead.

“I have filed a statement of candidacy with the FEC to prepare for the 2008 election and I am currently focused on my new appropriations subcommittee work and our work on behalf of the nation in this 110th Congress,” he said in a statement.

— Nicole Duran