July 18, 2007 04:54 AM UTC

Nicholson Steps Down from VA - Next Stop Senate?

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• by: Colorado Pols

We noted last month that Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson’s appearance at a Denver fundraiser raised the question of whether he might indeed run as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in 2008.

Today, Nicholson announced his resignation from the VA, according to Reuters:

U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson said on Tuesday he would step down, leaving an agency criticized for the care provided to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nicholson, whose resignation is effective no later than October 1, said he wanted to return to the private sector.

“This coming February, I turn 70 years old, and I feel it is time for me to get back into business, while I still can,” he said in a prepared statement.

Nicholson was sworn in on February 1, 2005. He has also served in the Bush administration as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and was a former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Nicholson would seem to be less likely to run for the Senate after a strong Q2 fundraising performance by Bob Schaffer, but it’s no secret that moderate Republicans have been searching for a more moderate candidate than Schaffer to run against Democrat Mark Udall.