Rep. Jim Gerlach (R) told a local newspaper that he is not interested in running for Senate in 2010.

“That is pretty much off the table,— Gerlach told the Allentown Morning Call.

Gerlach opened a gubernatorial exploratory committee earlier this year, but recently indicated he might be interested in running for Senate after Sen. Arlen Specter announced in April he would run for re-election as a Democrat. Gerlach also told the newspaper, however, that he would either run for re-election to his House seat or for governor and would make a decision in the next month.

More importantly for Republicans, Gerlach’s statement clears the Senate field for former Rep. Pat Toomey.