Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward told PolitickerPA.com Tuesday evening that she is "leaning very strongly" toward seeking the Republican nomination in the state 39th Senatorial District, a decision that would all but guarantee she would replace state Sen. Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland County) on the ballot there.

"I'm going to take the rest of the evening to decide," Ward said. "Tomorrow morning I'll send a press release out. I am very much edging toward doing so. I just need a couple more hours (to decide)."

Regola shocked many of his supporters Monday when he withdrew from his campaign. The senator was reportedly doing poorly in the polls after being charged with perjury and reckless endangerment stemming from the death of a 14-year-old neighbor, charges he was acquitted of in July. He also said in a statement he did not want to put his family through a rigorous campaign where those charges would likely be in the forefront.

The late and unexpected nature of Regola's withdrawal leaves Ward -- if she does decide to seek the nomination -- only two-and-a-half months to campaign.

"If do it, I have to hit the ground running," she said. "We don't have any choice. I don't have staffers -- I'm not set up for a campaign."

Local Republicans say because of Ward's longtime activism in the county and position as commissioner, she is the only potential candidate who stood much of a chance to defeat Democratic opponent Tony Bompiani. They indicated if she decided to run, she'd be the automatic choice when the county committee convenes Saturday morning to pick a replacement.

Ward said she awoke Tuesday morning thinking she would not seek the nomination. The thought of having to spend time away from home, run another campaign and leave her current public office was discouraging, she said.

But she said a torrent of phone calls from supporters and friends have nearly convinced her the county GOP needs her to run.

"A lot of those calls were telling me, 'You have to do this,'" she said.