Speculation about Norm Coleman's return to the political stage got a boost today from a Politico story that he's on the verge of making a bid for governor next year.

It notes that he's "gradually returning to the spotlight after months of near silence, a move that some insiders in Washington and Minnesota view as a precursor to a 2010 gubernatorial bid."

Money quote: "I think he's certainly thinking about it, and he's certainly getting a lot of people telling him he ought to do it," said former Minnesota Republican Rep. Vin Weber, a Coleman confidant. "If you had asked me two months ago, I would have said, 'No.' Now, I would say, 'Question mark.'"

You can read the whole thing here.