Salem Mayor Driscoll skipping 2012 Senate race

Driscoll has built a respectable record in Salem yet is still relatively unknown outside the North Shore. She had worked hard during the past several months to gauge possible support across the state.

She enlisted expertise from advisers at the Liberty Square Group, a Boston-based political consulting and strategic communications firm headed by former Kennedy aide Scott Ferson. She also traveled across Massachusetts, meeting Democratic activists and assessing the challenge of raising the money needed for the race.

Brown may spend $25 million to get re-elected; he already has over $7 million in the bank. It is a daunting challenge for any first-time statewide candidate.

Nonetheless, Newton Mayor Setti Warren continues to explore a campaign, as does City Year co-founder Alan Khazei, and at least two incumbent congressmen: US Representatives Michael Capuano of Somerville and Stephen Lynch of South Boston.

Gerry Kavanaugh, who served as chief of staff to the prior officeholder, the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, is also assessing a race, while Somerville activist Bob Massie has already said he's running.

Here is Driscoll's full statement:

“For the past several months I have considered a run for the United States Senate. I very much enjoyed this process and the response was sustaining and positive. I am especially thankful for the encouragement and wise counsel I received from those that I have spoken to about my interest in the Senate seat.

"I believe this race is an important one for working families in Massachusetts, and I believe that a Democrat can win the seat. I also agree with those I spoke with that to have the best shot at success requires candidates to announce early. Thus, I had set an April deadline for myself.

"I have concluded that I cannot enter the race at this time. As I worked through this decision making process, it became increasingly clear to me that at present there is much to do here in Salem. This is a critical period of time for the city and the next several months will be consumed with dealing with a very difficult budget, planning for the future of the city’s aging, coal based power plant, and managing strategic investments in our waterfront and transportation that are currently underway. My first obligation is to the people of Salem, who have elected me to do the best job I can, here first, before I think about moving on.

"Plain and simple, I do think the seat is winnable, but there is a time and place for everything and I have simply come to the conclusion that for me, at this time, I enjoy my job as mayor of Salem and I believe my work here will require my full attention.”

Glen Johnson can be reached at johnson@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globeglen.