Tom Price talks to NRSC about Senate bid while Jack Kingston moves toward announcing

From a story in Politico, Congressman Tom Price (R-GA-6) is in talks with the National Republican Senatorial Committee about running for the Senate seat being vacated by Saxby Chambliss in 2014.

Republican Rep. Tom Price met Monday with senior officials at the National Republican Senatorial Committee, according to two sources.

The Georgia congressman continues to mull a run for the seat opened up Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ retirement.

The NRSC will remain neutral in the primary and has been willing to meet with any candidate or his representative who’s declared that they are running or expressed a serious interest. These include Reps. Phil Gingrey, Jack Kingston and Paul Broun.

Price, a former chairman of the Republican Study Committee, raised more than $300,000 in the two weeks after Chambliss retired and had $1.6 million cash on hand at the end of the year.

There’s been chatter in Peach State Republican circles that Price, who represents Newt Gingrich’s old district, would rather sit out the Senate contest than give up his perch in the House. But the meeting suggests that he is still actively looking at making the race, even if he faces a crowded field.

Meanwhile, according to a separate Politico story, Congressman Jack Kingston (R-GA-1) has signed Fabrizio McLaughlin, who polled for Governor Nathan Deal, and is headed toward an April announcement.

Republican Rep. Jack Kingston is assembling a campaign team, including a pollster, in anticipation of a bid for the Georgia Senate seat that Saxby Chambliss is leaving open.

Kingston, now in his 11th term, … is expected to make an official announcement of his decision in mid-April, but he appears to be leaning heavily toward running.