DENVER – A narrow loss to U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning in the 2004 election means Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo (D-Hazard) is keeping an eye on the 2010 race, when Bunning is next up for re-election.

“Obviously when the 2010 race comes up, that’s something that, because I ran for that seat 4 years ago, I have a natural interest in because of the competitor in me,” said Mongiardo.

However, Mongiardo qualified his interest by saying he wanted to pursue elected offices that allowed him to make the biggest impact on a key issue for him – health care.

“My focus has been mostly on that,” said Mongiardo. “I am going to stay focused on health care and I am going to work as hard as I can to fix and solve our health care problem in this country. If that path keeps me in the lieutenant governor’s office, and I can complete my job there, then I am done with that. If that path takes me to another position or I have to go to another position to move that issue forward, then I am going to do that as well.”