Nevada Republican party chairwoman Sue Lowden is indeed considering running for Senate in 2010 and Rep. Dean Heller’s decision Tuesday not to seek the post ups the chances she will.

While “not a candidate today,” Lowden is “testing the waters,” said Robert Uithoven, a Republican strategist and former aide to Gov. Jim Gibbons, and Heller’s withdrawal from the race as well as recent polling results in the state provide ample encouragment.

“I think everyone was waiting on the Dean Heller decision, Sue Lowden certainly was,” added Uithoven, who is an ally of Lowden’s and has been encouraging her to consider a campaign. Uithoven told CQ Politics he thinks Lowden would make the best candidate to take on Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid, saying she would have the ability to appeal to critical independent voters.

Bernie Zadrowski, who serves on the Nevada Republican Party’s executive board, said Lowden had already begun raising money, and said she was capable of raising the funds to compete with Reid.