HARRISBURG -- Just eight days after Election Day, Bill Russell says he's ready for round two against U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown).

The Republican congressional candidate, who received a late avalanche of attention of attention in his race against the 34-year incumbent before ultimately falling by 16 points, told PolitickerPA.com Tuesday that he plans to run again in 2010.

"I'm running for the same seat again," he said, although he added he hasn't officially declared.

Russell was a darling of the conservative media this year as he tried to topple Murtha, a western Pennsylvania political institution. Their support helped him raise more than $2.5 million, according to the last report filed with the Federal Election Commission, an incredible amount of money for a congressional challenger.

His candidacy began receiving significant mainstream attention after Murtha called some of his constituents "racists" and a poll showed him leading Russell by fewer than 5 points.

But despite the attention, Murtha eventually won by a comfortable 40,000-vote margin, raising questions about how close the race ever was.

Russell said the wide margin was a result of new voters, particularly in Johnstown, who came to the polls to support Barack Obama and voted a straight Democratic ticket. Obama won Cambria County, one of the few western Pennsylvania counties that voted for the Democrat.

"That Obama wave killed us," Russell said.

The political climate will be different in two years, Russell said.

"I think there is a good chance for significant backlash against the Obama policies," he said.

Russell was in Harrisburg to attend the Speaker Franklin Awards Dinner, hosted by the conservative group Commonwealth Foundation. He was joined by his former campaign manager, Peg Luksik.

Russell said Luksik will stay involved with his campaign the next two years, although he said in a different capacity.