Former Nevada Assemblywoman Sharron Angle (R) is seeking exploratory funding to test the waters for a challenge to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) in 2010.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Saturday that Angle has sent a letter to a few thousand past supporters to build a bank account and to gauge support for a potential bid.

“I need to know what kind of support I have for a run like this. That’s what the exploration is all about,— Angle told the Review-Journal. “I need to know what kind of strength I can rely on, and in the way the political world works, that comes mostly in the form of contributions.—

Angle ran for the open 2nd district seat in 2006, vacated when then-Rep. Jim Gibbons (R) successfully ran for governor. But she narrowly lost the GOP primary to now-Rep. Dean Heller. She served four terms in the state Assembly.

The Republican Party has painted a target on the well-funded Reid, hoping to unseat him in 2010. So far, the GOP has been unable to recruit any top-tier candidates; Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki had been expected to challenge Reid, but he has been indicted for allegedly mishandling state funds.