Ten-term Rep. Collin Peterson (D) is one of more than a dozen veteran legislators whom Republicans are hoping to send into retirement in 2010, and the GOP started licking their chops when Peterson refused to confirm with absolute certainty to local Minnesota press that he would run for re-election next year.

Peterson, who won his 7th district seat with 72 percent of the vote in 2008, told Roll Call that he has filed his paperwork for a run, but that he never makes “a final decision until February.—

“I’m not doing anything different— he said.

The district is one that won’t be competitive if the incumbent stays put, but Peterson’s departure would likely give the GOP an opening to pick up the seat. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) narrowly won the rural western Minnesota district, 50 percent to 47 percent, in the 2008 presidential race.