Dole to file for Senate in North Carolina

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Elizabeth Dole plans to file papers Tuesday to run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina next year, Republican officials told CNN Monday.

"She told me, 'I'm definitely running and I'm going to campaign in all of North Carolina's 100 counties,'" said state GOP Chairman Bill Cobey.

Dole, 65, former Cabinet member, presidential hopeful and wife of 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole, will be running for the seat that becomes vacant with the retirement of longtime Sen. Jesse Helms in 2003.

Richard Vinroot, two-time GOP nominee for governor, is the only other declared Republican candidate for the Senate. U.S. Rep. Richard Burr also in weighing a possible run.

RESOURCES Message Board: Senator Elizabeth Dole?

Dole, who was labor and transportation secretary in the Reagan and Bush administrations, most recently was president of the American Red Cross. She briefly entered the race for the GOP presidential nomination in the last election.

Born and raised in North Carolina, Mrs. Dole has lived in Washington for many years.

She recently changed her voter registration to North Carolina from Kansas, the home state of her husband, the longtime U.S. senator who twice ran for president and was the vice presidential running mate of President Ford in 1976, the year Jimmy Carter won the White House.

Helms' seat has been a Republican stronghold for nearly 30 years, although the stalwart conservative withstood a number of strong challenges from the Democrats.

Among Democrats considering next year's race is another woman, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall. Another possible candidate is state Rep. Dan Blue, a former speaker of the state House of Representatives.