Rep. Earl Pomeroy — who was perhaps the most obvious of potential Democratic recruits following Sen. Byron Dorgan’s (D-N.D.) surprise retirement announcement Tuesday night — is expected to announce later today that he is running for re-election. He will make the announcement at a press conference Wednesday afternoon in North Dakota.

Dorgan’s retirement greatly jeopardizes Democrats’ ability to hold onto the seat in 2010. Popular longtime Gov. John Hoeven (R) “has been preparing to get into the race,— North Dakota Republican Chairman Gary Emineth said, and although the chairman has not spoken with him since Dorgan’s decision was disclosed, he said his expectation continues to be that “we will see Gov. Hoeven in the race.—

After 24 years in the wilderness, Emineth believes his party will finally succeed in sending representation to Washington in 2010.

“This just kinds of accelerates some things,— he said, adding that he expects to see an announcement in the next few weeks.

Emineth also has his eye on the race in the state’s At-Large House district. “I think we’re going to have a solid Congressional candidate within a week,— he said, alluding to Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer (R), who is poised to take on Pomeroy.

“If he gets into the race … he would obviously be the frontrunner— on the GOP side, Emineth said.