WASHINGTON – Nevada Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki confirmed in an interview Friday that he was inching closer to a 2010 challenge to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Searchlight), and said that he had begun the process of reaching out to national Republicans in an effort to lay the groundwork for a bid.

In a telephone interview, Krolicki said he was “doing the due diligence” of gauging support for a candidacy and talking to his family about the matter, but he suggested a bid was likely and said that any formal statement of candidacy would come at the beginning of the year.

On Thursday evening, the Associated Press reported that Krolicki was actively considering a run. But Krolicki said that he was “more than mulling,” adding, “I think we’d be very… credible.”

Krolicki said his aides had begun the process of reaching out to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who appears poised to assume the chairmanship of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) bowed out of the race for the top NRSC post, smoothing the way for Cornyn. Reaching out to NRSC leadership, Krolicki said, was part of the process of “putting the pieces in place” for a bid.

A spokeswoman for the NRSC declined to comment on any contact the committee had made with Krolicki, redirecting inquiries to Cornyn’s office. A spokesman for Cornyn declined to comment.

Krolicki acknowledged that other state Republicans have expressed an interest in challenging Reid, but he suggested that two potential candidates – state Sen. Joe Heck and U.S. Rep. Jon Porter – had been damaged politically following losses in last Tuesday’s election.

“A lot of the bench got dismissed,” Krolicki said. Krolicki noted that in the last week, with now “fewer state Republicans that can do this race,” he had fielded calls from national Republicans urging him to dive in against Reid.

In the interview, Krolicki called Porter “a real friend of mine,” but said he was interested in working with the congressman to avoid a GOP primary that could prove divisive.

“We have talked, and we will talk again, and we will figure it out,” Krolicki said.

A Porter spokesman declined to comment on any conversations that had taken place with Krolicki. Porter, a three-term congressman who was ousted from his Las Vegas-area seat by state Sen. Dina Titus, has yet to make his 2010 intentions known.

Krolicki served two terms as state treasurer prior to winning election to the lieutenant governor’s seat in 2006. He was quick to note that he carried two fast-growing Democratic counties, Clark and Washoe, in his 2006 bid.

Krolicki also offered a preview of a prospective campaign against Reid, saying that the Democrat had “campaigned as an Independent like Nevada,” but had proven to be more in touch with needs of his Democratic caucus.

Reid spokesman Jon Summers brushed off the charge.

"The national Republican Party has been searching for a long time to find someone to run against Sen. Reid. We'll see if they settle on Mr. Krolicki,” said Summers. “As the Majority Leader of the United States Senate—the man who runs the Senate—Sen. Reid delivers results for Nevada that no one else can.”

Democrats close to Reid say he has been preparing for a challenge from Republicans for years, building a hefty campaign war chest and helping to create a Democratic voter registration edge in the state.

Krolicki said he had little doubt that Reid had been building a formidable apparatus and that a tough road lay ahead.

“He’s a Nevada political powerhouse. He’s smart, he’s tough, and I respect that,” said Krolicki. “It’s a bit daunting opposing a sitting majority leader.”