The Republican candidates are starting to come out of the woodwork to take down Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Asked Friday if he was running for U.S. Senate Republican Dan Severson said: "We're sending out a press release today for an announcement on Monday."

Severson, who was in the Minnesota state Capitol Friday, is a former state representative who ran Secretary of State in 2010.

Hot Dish said that his disclosure of an announcement made it sound like he was running for Senate and Severson replied: "It's an announcement of our intentions."

Meanwhile, state Sen. Dave Thompson, a freshman who quickly become a leader among Republican Senators, said Wednesday that he hadn't ruled a U.S. Senate run in or out.

"I'm flattered by it. I have done nothing to promote that. I'm certainly not in. And I've really focused on learning to do this job well," Thompson said.

After saying that it was kind of people to speak of him for U.S. Senate, he said: "I haven't ruled anything out and I haven't ruled anything in," he said.

When told he gave the classic politicians' answer when asked about higher office they've eyed, he added: "You want me to put it in different terms? I really haven't considered it. I haven't really thought long and hard about it."