Barney Frank considers bid for U.S. Senate

U.S. representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said Thursday that he would seriously consider running for the U.S. Senate if Sen. John Kerry wins the presidency. The only thing that could deter him, Frank said, is if the Democrats regain control of the House of Representatives, giving him chairmanship of the Financial Services Committee. Otherwise, Frank said, "I'd give it very serious thought." "If it looked like we were going to stay in the minority, I would be very inclined to do it," said the 12-term congressman. If elected, Frank, 62, would be the first openly gay member of the Senate. Kerry, 59, is one of nine Democrats who have announced plans to challenge President Bush in 2004. The Massachusetts Democrat is in his fourth term in the U.S. Senate.