Ten-term Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) is one of more than a dozen Democrats Republicans are hoping to send to retirement in 2010. 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 CQ-Roll Call Wednesday 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 could give the GOP an opening. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) narrowly won the rural Western Minnesota district 50 to 47 percent in the 2008 presidential race.

CQ Politics currently rates the general election contest Safe Democratic.

To see how all the 2010 Senate races are shaping up, check out the CQ Politics election map.