WASHINGTON - Although he considered retiring after he felt Republican Senate leaders treated him unfairly, U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi on Saturday appealed to Wyoming voters to send him back to Washington for a third term.

"I'm asking the people of Wyoming to renew my contract," he said toward the end of a 16-minute speech at city hall in his hometown of Gillette, where he served as mayor.

"I am prepared, I'm determined, and I have the experience and the ability to ensure the will of the Wyoming people is not only known but followed," he added.

The Wyoming Republican, 64, and his wife, Diana, then hosted an ice cream social with root beer floats.

After the speech, Enzi said he had seriously considered retiring because Republican leaders twice denied him a seat that was due him on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee.

"I really wanted to be on the Finance Committee," he said in a telephone interview. "I wanted to be on the Finance Committee since I got to Washington - that's the accountant's dream."

Enzi pushed for the seat after the death of Sen. Craig Thomas last year left an opening. Despite Enzi's seniority, GOP leaders gave it to another senator who agreed to head up their campaign committee.

"When the resignation of Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., created another opening on the panel, Enzi again pressed for it. But Republican leaders instead gave it in January to freshman Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., who faces one of the toughest re-election battles in the country.

Enzi said that was a down time in his life.

"What was probably even worse is we were just holding our annual planning retreat for my Wyoming staff, my personal staff in Washington and my committee staff," he said. "I get all of them together and we talk about what needs to be done" That was the day after I found out I wasn't going to be on the Finance Committee again."

But his staff's attitude at the retreat helped him decide to run again. They came up with the idea of 10 legislative steps that would result in health care for all Americans - one of which, a genetic nondiscrimination bill, just passed the Senate.

"We had the best planning session we have ever had, the most enthusiastic," he said. "That really helped me make up my mind. If we could get through that time, we could get through anything."

He said it was a difficult decision because it's quite a commitment to serve another six years but that he's ready and excited to take it on.

Enzi kept his decision to himself until Saturday. His announcement speech as prepared for delivery had him almost immediately making the announcement he would run; but he changed his mind and waited until the final minutes to make clear his plans.

Calling it an 'emotional day,' Enzi seemed to choke up as he began addressing the crowd.

Enzi is a safe bet for re-election, said Nathan Gonzales, political editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report, which analyzes national races.

"I don't think Sen. Enzi has to worry about his re-election effort," Gonzales said. "I think we just experienced the most dramatic part of his campaign."

Although Enzi shouldn't take his re-election for granted and must raise some money, Gonzales added, Democrats have many better opportunities to focus on in other states.

Democrat Christopher Rothfuss, a University of Wyoming instructor, has announced that he will run for Enzi's seat.

In his speech, Enzi said he's 'getting into the race late' and asked supporters for help with his campaign, citing newspaper articles that noted he hasn't 'raised much money.'

But he said coming back on the weekends and seeing the people of Wyoming is more important than polls or fundraising.

Enzi raised about $196,000 during the first three months of the year. As of the end of March he had about $647,000 cash on hand to use for a re-election bid.

By contrast, his GOP colleague, Sen. John Barrasso, raised about $437,000 during the first quarter of the year and had more than $1.1 million in the bank.

Because Barrasso was appointed to the seat last year after the death of Thomas, both Wyoming Republicans would be on the ballot in November.

'Power is fleeting'

Enzi used the speech to reflect on the work he has done in the Senate over his two terms.

"I promised to be a workhorse for Wyoming, and I hope you think I have been," he said.

He said he works 19-hour weekdays and travels back to Wyoming most weekends. "I only know one speed, and that's full speed," he said.

He thanked his staff, volunteers and family for supporting him. He said the decision wasn't easy and that it affects his whole family, adding that he and his wife still have 'things we want to do together while we're still young enough and healthy enough.'

Washington doesn't understand Wyoming, Enzi said, and some see government as the answer to every problem. "You and I know that the government is often the problem," he said.

Enzi said he has worked toward a more congenial and less partisan Congress.

Enzi touted his leadership on health care issues. The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has had 27 bills signed into law during his tenure as the top-ranking Republican on the panel, he said.

He said he expects it to make progress on a health information technology bill soon.

He also said he has been working on a variety of issues including small business aid, railroad retirement changes, abandoned mine land funding, hunting and fishing opportunities, lower taxes, higher education and mining law reform.

He uses a special computer system he designed to evaluate and plan progress on each issue, he said.

First elected in 1996, Enzi also has been involved in prayer breakfasts and international AIDS eradication efforts, met heads of state and started an inventors conference, among other efforts, he said. "The Senate experience has exceeded my imagination," he said.

He said he has faith in God, the country and state, his family and friends, and in action. "Power is fleeting, but doing the right thing lasts forever," he said.