Republican Marina Kats is using whispers of a possible 2010 Senate run by U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Abington) to call on her 13th Congressional District incumbent opponent not to spend her next two-year term campaigning for higher office.

Kats initially issued the demand Friday in a visit to Schwartz's Jenkintown campaign office. Schwartz wasn't there, but Kats placed one of her own campaign signs on the steps of the office and posed for photos, a move the Schwartz campaign called "juvenile."

"Everybody has a right to run for higher office, but if someone is planning to run for office in 2010, they should tell their constituents that they'll be running for office while still in Congress," Kats told PolitickerPA.com in an interview Monday.

As Democrats have been trying to determine who best to run against U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) in two years, Schwartz's name has consistently been one of the favorites for party insiders to drop. U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Edgmont) has also been mentioned, and MSNBC commentator Chris Matthews has done some high-profile talking about a possible run of his own. At the Democratic convention in Denver in August, Schwartz declined to speculate on the possibility, saying she was focused on her reelection bid.

In a statement, her campaign reiterated that stance.

"...it is a high compliment that folks would mention her as a U.S. Senate candidate, but Allyson is focused solely on Nov. 4th and working in 2009 and 2010 to fix the economy and get affordable healthcare to families," campaign field director James Chang said.

Kats is not convinced.

"I hear it from too many sources," she said. "There's an expression that where there's smoke there's fire. And too many sources, in the Democratic Party included tell me this is what's going on."

There has been no official confirmation from any source inside or outside the campaign that Schwartz is planning a run.

All signs point to an easy reelection victory for Schwartz in two weeks. She has significantly more money than Kats, a political newcomer who has struggled to gain traction in an increasingly Democratic district. Still, she seems to see the issue of Schwartz's potential 2010 run as one of her best hopes for convincing voters not to back the incumbent.

"I am planning to do this job full time," Kats said. "I'm not planning to run for an office, I can tell you unequivocally. If I win, I will make my first, second and third priority to represent the 13th Congressional District."