 He reportedly considered involving himself in a primary challenge to incumbent Republican Senator Arlen Specter in 2010, due to opposition to Specter's support of the federal stimulus package.He was mentioned by the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" and the "National Journal" as a possible candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to challenge incumbent Democrat Bob Casey Jr. in the 2012 election.In 2010, "Politics Magazine" named him one of the most influential Republicans in Pennsylvania.