In the wake of Sen. Judd Gregg’s (R-N.H.) decision to withdraw as President Barack Obama’s nominee for Commerce secretary, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) said Friday he will ask Gregg to reconsider his decision to retire from the Senate in 2010.

Gregg announced Thursday that he had a change of heart about accepting Obama’s offer to join the Cabinet, citing differences of opinion with the new president. Although Gregg also suggested that he didn’t intend to run for a fourth term, he also appeared to leave some wiggle room on his political future.

“From my standpoint, he’s changed his mind once, I’d love to see him change it again,” Cornyn said.

Cornyn said he needs to have a conversation with Gregg, emphasizing that the New Hampshire Senator would be the Republicans’ strongest candidate next year in a state that has trended Democratic in recent elections. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) ousted then-incumbent Sen. John Sununu (R) last year.