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RALEIGH (AP) - North Carolina Rep. Heath Shuler will not run for Senate in 2010, a spokesman said Monday night, declining a chance to seek a seat in the upper chamber as Democrats plot to expand their majority on Capitol Hill.

Spokesman Andrew Whalen made the announcement that Shuler would not challenge Republican Richard Burr.

Shuler was expected to release a formal statement on his decision later Monday.

Galvanized by the successful campaign to unseat former GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole in November, Democrats have been eager to target Burr's seat when he faces re-election for the first time late next year. The party would particularly like to win a filibuster-proof 60 seats in the Senate, which could help them override Republican efforts to block legislation.

Shuler has broad appeal in a state where voters prefer conservative Democrats. A former quarterback at the University of Tennessee and in the NFL, Shuler already has wide name recognition across the state and broad support in his western North Carolina district.

The second-term lawmaker has won the praise of moderates after breaking from party lines on a number of votes. In the past few months, he voted against both bank bailouts and was one of only a handful of Capitol Hill lawmakers to break from party lines on the economic stimulus vote.

He said last month that Democratic leadership had "failed" to seek a bipartisan compromise on the stimulus measure, arguing that the massive package didn't focus enough on infrastructure projects.

Shuler's decision comes several months after fellow North Carolina Rep. Brad Miller announced his decision not to seek Burr's seat. Both were courted two years ago to challenge Dole, but both declined the offer.

Party observers have also suggested Attorney General Roy Cooper and former State Treasurer Richard Moore as potential challengers for Burr. Both have remained mum about their future political plans.