DENVER -- Former Democratic Senate candidate Steve Novick, who has been mentioned on Oregon political insiders’ short list as a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2010, did not rule out a run Thursday when he was asked about the possibility.

“It has occurred to me that if I am going to spend the rest of my life fighting Bill Sizemore, I might as well do it from a position of power,” Novick said as he left the Oregon Democratic delegation breakfast.

Novick, who was referencing the well-known Oregon conservative activist, was at the breakfast speaking on behalf of his former opponent in the Senate primary, Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley (D-Portland). Novick ran a surprisingly effective grassroots-oriented campaign against the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee-backed Merkley.