HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - The country's most tenured state attorney general has decided to run for U.S. Senate.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is expected to announce his candidacy for a Senate seat being vacated by fellow Democrat Chris Dodd on Wednesday, according to a Reuters report.

Blumenthal has routinely passed up chances to run for different offices, but has remained the state's attorney general since 1991.

In 2004, Dodd easily defeated Republican Jack Orchulli, earning 66 percent of the vote. Blumenthal was similarly popular in his last race, gaining 74 percent of the vote in 2006.

Before becoming attorney general, Blumenthal served in both houses of the state General Assembly.

Blumenthal defended Dodd almost a year ago when Dodd came under fire for what a Hartford Courant columnist called "sweetheart loans" from beleaguered Countrywide Financial. Dodd is the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.

Blumenthal said there was nothing wrong with the documents and Dodd would be re-elected in 2010.

Former U.S. Rep. Robert Simmons has entered the Senate race as a Republican.

From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at jobrienwv@gmail.com.