Nunnelee In 1

Associated Press - Nunnelee readying for potential 1st District race

Republican state Sen. Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo has filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission announcing his intention to run for Congress in Mississippi's First District.

Nunnelee is not qualifying for the 2010 election. That would come later. The FEC filing means Nunnelee is beginning to raise money.

Nunnelee has toured the north Mississippi congressional district over the past few weeks to gauge his support.

The post is now held by Democrat Travis Childers of Booneville. Childers won the post after Republican Roger Wicker was appointed to the U.S. Senate.

The 50-year-old Nunnelee is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He has been in the Senate since 1995.