Cornyn: GOP will announce Reid opponent in ‘coming weeks’

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Tex.) told reporters that the organization will anoint a candidate to challenge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) in 2010.

According to the Las Vegas Sun, Cornyn told a group of reporters “We don’t have a candidate yet…We’re working on it. There’ll be hopefully some news here in the coming weeks.”

Cornyn’s announcement, while unspecific, has heightened the speculation surrounding which potential challenger the NRSC will choose. Rep. Dean Heller is rumored to be the top choice amongst Nevada Republicans. But with Heller staying mum, Republican state Sen. Mark Amodei visited Capitol Hill this week and told the Sun early last month “If Dean doesn’t, I’ll consider it.”

Republicans might not be in a rush to appoint a candidate to run against Reid, whose approval ratings have dipped below 40 percent. But Republicans are still watchful that the NRSC chooses a candidate who has a strong chance to unseat the four-term Senator next year.