Gannett's Ellyn Ferguson reports today that the Senate's oldest living member and soon to be longest serving Senator in U.S. history, Robert Byrd, could be just a day away from announcing that he will seek a ninth term in the upper chamber of Congress.

On Tuesday, Byrd, 87, is expected to announce just that when he takes center stage in the Lower Rotunda of the West Virginia Capitol building in Charleston.

Even critics who believe Byrd is at his most vulnerable point in the nearly 47 years since West Virginians first sent him to the Senate say they would be stunned if the stalwart Democrat decided not to run.

Among his Democratic and Republican colleagues, Byrd has built a reputation as an expert on the intricate rules of the Senate and a staunch defender of Congress and its constitutional powers.

"His life is the Senate," said Robin Capehart, chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party.

With Byrd leading his nearest challenger -- who might not even run -- by 16 points, it's going to be difficult for the Republicans to deny Byrd another term, even in the "red" state of West Virginia.

Out of Colorado comes news of a new candidate for the Democrats, a strong challenger who might actually be able to give a GOP incumbent a run for his money. Dan Haley has the story for The Denver Post.

Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Jay Fawcett, a Democrat, will announce Tuesday that he'll run for Colorado's 5th Congressional District against Rep. Joel Hefley. (However, rumors continue to swirl, and not for the first time, that the 10-term congressman may retire.)

Although George W. Bush won the district with 66 percent of the vote in 2004, there's no reason to believe that the former Lt. Colonel can't at least make a race of it.