Coburn will run for re-election

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) announced today that he will seek re-election to the Senate in 2010.

The first term Senator’s intentions had been unclear in recent months, though reports over the last few days suggested he was leaning towards running again.

A physician, Coburn is known as one of the most conservative members of the Senate, especially on hot-button issues like abortion and gun control. But Coburn is also close with President Obama, with whom he became friends when both men were getting used to the Senate after their respective victories in 2004.

Coburn has pledged to serve no more than two terms. His decision to seek re-election saves the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) the trouble of finding, recruiting and funding a candidate to hold on to the seat.