With an already robust war chest at his disposal, U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont, brought in another $567,319 in the first quarter of 2009, putting his cash-on-hand by mid-April up to more than $3.3 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

The April 15 filing caused all manner of chatter on political blogs over the weekend that the former three-star vice admiral is gearing up for a U.S. Senate run in 2010.

If that's the case, Sestak isn't giving anything away.

"I am the 7th District representative, and that is the focus of my attention," he said in a statement Monday. "Beyond that, I have made no decision about my future."

That's a little less firm than previous statements outright denying any higher aspirations, but still not exactly an announcement of candidacy.

If he does run and successfully navigates the Democratic primary, Sestak would either be looking to take on five-term incumbent Arlen Specter, R-Pa., or whoever can knock Specter out in the Republican primary.

At this point, Specter's most serious challenger is conservative former congressman Pat Toomey, who gave Specter a run for his money in the 2004 primary -- and very nearly won.

The only Democrat to have formally announced a Senate candidacy is Joe Torsella, who also raised just about $600,000 in the first three months of the year. Democratic state Reps. Josh Shapiro, Allyson Schwartz and U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy are also reportedly considering a run, but haven't made any announcements.