The entire state is still reeling from the loss of one of its most beloved citizens, and Republican leaders have been reluctant to talk about who could be a suitable candidate to replace U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas.

But with a statutory deadline of 15 days to present Gov. Dave Freudenthal with a list of three candidates from which he will make an appointment, the party does not have the luxury of time.

Despite the reticence of most people, three names seem to have moved to the forefront of the list: Rep. Colin Simpson, R-Cody, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Casper, and Jackson native and current U.S. Attorney for Wyoming Matt Mead.

“The e-mail is flying this morning,” said Rep. Keith Gingery, R-Jackson. “Colin Simpson seems to be the front runner, Matt Mead’s name keeps popping up, John Barrasso, I am almost positive he will stick his name in for it.”

Mead is the son of the late Mary Mead and Pete Mead and grandson of former Wyoming governor and U.S. Sen. Cliff Hansen of Jackson Hole. He was appointed by President George W. Bush to his position as U.S. attorney for Wyoming in 2001.

“[Sen. Thomas] is the one who submitted my name to the president for U.S. Attorney and I am eternally grateful to him for that,” Mead said in a phone interview from his Cheyenne office.

Prior to Thomas’ death, Mead’s name had been thrown around as a possible candidate to challenge U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin for the Republican nomination for U.S. House in 2008.

In an letter to the Casper Star-Tribune published May 29 regarding reports that he was among U.S. attorneys on the Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez’s “hit list,” Mead hinted he had larger political aspirations, saying perhaps his name was on the list because the Justice Department “heard I may be leaving anyway to pursue other public office.”

Mead would not say whether or not he was interested in the Senate position Tuesday.

“Sorry, I am going to dodge that one,” he said. “I think the important thing now is for everyone to focus on the Senator’s passing and his family grieving.”

Despite his dodge, Mead’s interview suggested he may be in the running for one of the three nominations.

“I know it is a short time frame, but the most important thing for me or anyone else being considered right now is to think of [Sen. Thomas’] family,” he said.

As the son of former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, Colin Simpson has a political pedigree rivaled only by that of Mead. In addition, he is serving his fifth term in the Wyoming House and was elected Majority Floor Leader before the last legislative session. Simpson made a point of tackling high-profile issues, including resurrecting the state’s wolf bill almost single-handedly in the final days of the session.

Simpson declined to comment as to whether he had been approached or would even be interested in the position.

“I am sorry, I don’t even want to talk about that today,” he said.

Barrasso had previously challenged U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi for his seat and is in his second term in the Wyoming senate.

He did not return a call for comment.

While these three may be considered the front runners for the nomination numerous other dark horse possibilities exist.

Sen. Grant Larson, R-Jackson, who is serving his fourth term in the Senate and is a former president of that body, said people have approached him about the  position but he declined to comment on whether he would be interested in making the move to Washington.

Others who could be viable candidates include former Wyoming Speaker of the House and current Wyoming Republican Party Chairman Fred Parady, and former state treasurer Cynthia Loomis, said Dr. Jim King, professor of political science at the University of Wyoming.

“I would imagine there are a lot of people who are interested,” he said. “When you think back to ’96 when Alan Simpson retired, there was a wide-open Republican field.”

King said the party could look at nominees in a couple different ways.

“If they are trying to get someone who would be a strong candidate in the 2008 election, it would be people who have succeeded in the past,” he said. “The other approach would be to nominate someone who is unlikely to run again and then have a wide-open primary in the fall.”

One name conspicuously absent from the list is Cubin’s. In other states it may be a logical progression to look to a U.S Representative to fill a vacant senate seat.But Cubin’s poor showing in the last election, when she beat Jackson Hole resident Gary Trauner by about 1,000 votes, coupled with the fact that she has missed more than 37 percent of all votes so far this session (according to a Washington Post database that tracks congressional voting records) could leave her out of contention.

Thomas’ replacement will serve until 2008 when he or she must run for the seat in a special election. It also means the 2008 election could bring in an entirely new federal delegation for Wyoming with Cubin up for re-election as well as Enzi.

Whoever Freudenthal chooses to replace Thomas, the appointed senator may have to enjoy his or her time in Washington while he or she can, because it could be short, said King.

“Historically, appointed senators have fared less well than those that gained office by election,” he said. “It doesn’t mean the Republicans won’t hold the seat, but an appointed senator usually draws stronger opposition.”