Red Sox Pitcher Curt Schilling (R) officially turned down a bid for Senate, writing on his Web site that it was not the right time to pursue a campaign.

“Given the amount of things going on I cannot in good conscience even consider running for the open Senate seat here in Massachusetts,— Schilling wrote, citing his professional and personal obligations.

State Sen. Scott Brown is pursuing the GOP nomination in the January special election to replace the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), although it is considered a long shot for any Republican to win statewide in Massachusetts.

Several Democrats, including state Attorney General Martha Coakley and Rep. Mike Capuano, announced their candidacies and will face off in a Dec. 8 primary.