Republican Dino Rossi said yesterday he won't run against Democratic U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.

That is the first in a series of decisions by would-be candidates that Republican leaders hope will soon lead to a single, consensus candidate for the Republican nomination.

A key Republican in some of those talks, former U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, said Safeco CEO Mike McGavick is the next first choice for party leaders.

"I think it is going to be McGavick," said Dunn, a lobbyist who splits her time between Seattle and Washington, D.C. "Everybody's asked him to run. It is like a draft. We all just like the idea a lot."

She said McGavick called her recently to ask for her support.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., chairwoman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has told party leaders she is excited about a McGavick candidacy, said Brian Nick, a committee spokesman.

Dole has met with McGavick and other potential candidates.

Rossi had been something of a reluctant potential senatorial candidate since May, when he lost a court fight over last November's governor's election. He had sued to overturn the election of Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire.

But he was many Republican leaders' first choice to take on the freshman senator. Some considering entering the race were waiting to hear what Rossi would do.

"This will be the catalyst for things to move forward," said Republican state Party Chairman Chris Vance. "There is a tremendous desire and I think consensus among Republican leaders that we need to unite behind one candidate."

Vance, who had said he would consider the race if Rossi didn't run, said yesterday he won't be a candidate, either.

Other than McGavick, potential opponents for Cantwell include former federal prosecutor Diane Tebelius, former Congressman Rick White and state Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee.

Rossi said in a statement yesterday that he had two concerns with another race so soon after his elongated run for governor: The effect on his family and his long-stated goal of focusing on in-state issues.

"Right now I'm committed to turning this state around, and I need to stay here to accomplish that goal," Rossi said in his statement. "For these reasons, I will not run for U.S. Senate in 2006."

McGavick comes to the group of potential candidates with experience at a major corporation as well as close ties to Republican leaders and party officials from his time on the staff of former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton.

McGavick has declined as recently as yesterday to talk publicly about his intentions.

Dunn said McGavick is discussing the candidacy with the Safeco board of directors.

The connection to a publicly-held company means McGavick has to be cognizant of how any announcement could affect the company.

McGavick also would have to be careful about not using corporate resources for an exploratory effort, said Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan campaign-watchdog group.

"He has to be scrupulous about separating the two," he said.

Republican leaders want to avoid a primary to give their candidate a leg up in the race against Cantwell.

"I think everybody involved right now wants to avoid a primary," Dunn said.

Tebelius, though, said the White House has assured her officials there won't interfere in the primary.

"I think Chris [Vance] has a belief that he doesn't want a primary," said Tebelius, a Republican national committeewoman. "Primaries are actually good for candidates. They flush out the issues and make you talk about where you stand."

The Seattle Times was unable to reach White for comment.

Parlette, reached in Wenatchee on a short break from her family's cherry harvest, said Rossi's decisions means "I'm really going to have to think about this."

She said she wants to meet McGavick before making a decision.

If she isn't going to run, she said, "I think it's important to get out of the way and let someone get started on this."

Staff reporter Alicia Mundy contributed to this report.

David Postman: 360-943-9882 or dpostman@seattletimes.com