Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA) has announced that he will not run for Senate in 2010, clearing away what may have been one of the few remaining obstacles between former Rep. Pat Toomey and the Republican nomination.

"That is pretty much off the table," Gerlach told the Allentown Morning Call.

Some Republicans had been urging Gerlach to make the race, after incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties from the GOP to the Democrats in order to avoid Toomey's conservative primary challenge. Former Gov. Tom Ridge also announced a few weeks ago that he isn't running.