Miller is being courted by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Miller said he is listening.

"I'm at least going to talk to folks in North Carolina and get a sense of what people are thinking," Miller said Wednesday.

National Democrats have had difficulty recruiting a candidate to run against Dole, a two-time Cabinet member and former president of the American Red Cross.

Democrats tried unsuccessfully to persuade Gov. Mike Easley and, then, first lady Mary Easley to enter the race. They also made runs at the two leading Democratic candidates for governor, Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue and state Treasurer Richard Moore.

In a poll they had commissioned in North Carolina, they included the name of Hugh Shelton, retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. But Shelton has shown no interest.

More recently, Democratic leaders have focused on Miller, a three-term congressman and former state legislator who represents the 13th district, which takes in part of two of the state's largest media markets, the Triangle and the Triad. Although the district is considered a bit of a swing district, Miller has won handily, most recently dispatching Republican Vernon Robinson in a bare-knuckles race.

Miller, a 53-year-old attorney, said he has talked to New York Sen. Charles Schumer, who is leading the Democratic Senate recruitment effort. Miller, who just returned from a congressional trip to Darfur, said he hoped to reach a decision quickly after consulting with supporters and leading Democrats such as U.S. Rep. David Price of Chapel Hill, former Gov. Jim Hunt and Easley.

It is a difficult decision, Miller said, because he is enjoying being in the majority for the first time as a representative. He said he is busy on such issues as pushing a new law against predatory-lending practices.

"There is plenty enough for me to say grace over," Miller said. "But there is no doubt it would offer a chance to be more involved in more issues."

Miller said he doesn't underestimate the difficulty of defeating one of the best known politicians in the country.

"I don't think it will be an easy race for anybody," Miller said. "I think a Democrat can win that race. I think the advantage I'd have -- and any Democrat would have -- is I will never have to be briefed on which state I represent in the Senate."

Democrats have criticized Dole for living in Washington most of her adult life and not spending enough time in the state since she was elected to the Senate in 2002.

Brian Nick, a Dole strategist, said the senator expects a strong opponent in the race. But Nick said he was not surprised that the Democrats were having difficulty finding a candidate.

"When you have someone like Senator Dole, who enjoys broad popularity; add to the fact that she's off to a tremendous fundraising start to her campaign, she is extremely formidable," he said. "They thought they had a very good candidate against her in her last campaign, and she won by 9 percent."

Miller said a Senate race would be "brutally expensive." Dole raised $13.7 million in her 2002 race while defeating Democrat Erskine Bowles, who raised $13.3 million. Dole said she has raised $1.7 million during the first three months of this year.

But Miller said 2008 could be shaping up as a Democratic year because of the current unpopularity of President Bush.