By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

Only an hour in to Republican State Committee, and already the battle for establishment support has begun among 2012 Senate hopefuls.

Tim Burns, the businessman who ran for Congress against Mark Critz in a 2010 special election and again in the general election, confirmed that he is seriously considering a bid for U.S. Senate.

“Well, I’m here. So obviously I’m pretty serious about it. I’ve gotten a lot of folks who have encouraged me to take a look at it so I have,” Burns told PoliticsPA. “I don’t have any of the current slate of candidates are by any means running away with or have gotten a whole lot of traction so I think it’s anybody’s race at this point.”

He said that his final decision was likely within the month.

“Within the next week to two weeks max, I would say I would make a decision. I need to make sure that I am going to be able to get the necessary support both here and fundraising.”

“I think that based on the campaign I ran here last cycle and the support base I got both volunteer and fundraising, I’m getting a lot of positive response. I’m probably leaning towards getting into this race.”

Burns joins a suddenly crowded field of primary contenders. Harrisburg-area attorney Marc Scaringi and U.S. Army veteran John Vernon have booths set up for the weekend. Businessman Steve Welch and Bucks County veterans’ advocate David Christian are also expected to attend tonight’s dinner, featuring keynote speaker RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.

He was speaking with coal industry veteran and Tea Party leader Tom Smith in the lobby of the Harrisburg Hilton. Smith hosted several fundraisers for Burns during his 2010 campaigns and two have maintained a relationship.

Smith could be overheard encouraging Burns not to get in the race, a mix of joviality and seriousness in his tone.

Burns founded a pharmaceutical company, TechRx, in 1992. The business grew to 400 employees before he sold it in 2003. He lost to Critz in the May 2010 special election by 9 points, but came within 1 percent of a victory that fall’s rematch.

Sari Heidenreich contributed to this report.