ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland's lieutenant governor ended months of speculation Wednesday in his forming of an exploratory committee into a 2006 bid for U.S. Senate.

"It's a big step to talk to national figures who are behind you, and moms and pops in the communities across the state who have come up and said, 'Think about running.'" - Lt. Gov Michael Steele

In March, the state's longest-serving senator -- Paul Sarbanes, 72 -- announced his retirement after serving five terms.

Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, the state's first black lieutenant governor, joins Democratic primary candidate Kweisi Mfume in hopes of becoming the state's first black U.S. senator.

---

Survey: Who Has Best Chances?
Watch: John Sherman Reports: Gov. Excited For Steele's Likely Senate Run
Link: Md. U.S. Senators | Black U.S. Senators

---

But Steele said it's not about making history, it's about the future. WBAL-TV 11 News reporter John Sherman reported all signs point to a near certainty for a Steele candidacy.

"It's a big step to talk to national figures who are behind you, and moms and pops in the communities across the state who have come up and said, 'Think about running,'" Steele said.

Gov. Bob Ehrlich, the state's first Republican chief executive in 34 years, said he's excited over a likely Steele candidacy.

"It's still going to be Ehrlich-Steele, it's just going to be different places on the ticket. I am excited," Ehrlich said.

In officially announcing the formation of an exploratory committee, Steele said his potential candidacy would not necessarily break up the Ehrlich-Steele team.

"Ehrlich-Steele becomes Ehrlich and Steele. So, we're still a team and the goal's to get the governor re-elected, and hopefully pick up a U.S. Senate seat," Steele said.

Ehrlich said this represents a rare opportunity that's too promising to pass up.

"You have a friend who has an opportunity, and you always want your friend to go for it and I'm certainly not going to stand in the way of a friend with a great opportunity," Ehrlich said. "I believe this is an opportunity for the lieutenant governor to win. If I did not believe that, I would have given my strong opinion 'no.'"

Terry Lierman, the chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party, believes his party will more than match the lieutenant governor in an election.

Lierman said at least two candidates who have already announced their intentions -- Rep. Ben Cardin, D-District 3, and Kweisi Mfume, the former CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People -- will fair well against Steele.

He also said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-District 8, who may soon enter the race, would also be a formidable candidate.

"When you have a candidate like Michael Steele, and three terrific candidates that are good on the issues and have voted on the issues in a very positive way to help Maryland families, we're going to be successful," Lierman said.

If elected, Steele would become the state's first Republican U.S. senator since Sen. Charles "Mac" Mathias Jr. left office in 1987 -- a thought not overlooked by Democrats.

Lierman charged: "Michael Steele represents the right wing of the Republican party, the same people that Gov. Ehrlich worked with, and (former U.S. House Speaker) Newt Gingrich and (Texas U.S. Rep.) Tom DeLay, (R-District 22), and Michael Steel is very much a part of that family."

Still, Steele said he has received help and support from Senators already in office.

"(North Carolina Sen.) Elizabeth Dole, from the early stages, talked very candidly and openly about what this would mean to me personally, to the party and to the country," Steele said.

Stay with TheWBALChannel.com and WBAL-TV 11 News for the latest Commitment 2006 updates.