Senate President Steve Sweeney said today he respects Sen. Dick Codey's decision not to run for governor and will have his own decision withiin a week.

"I went and spoke to Dick because I didn't put my personal interests first," Sweeney said by phone.  "I asked him to look at it and he did.  So I'm not going to be critical of his decision."

Asked what Codey's decision means to his own potential gubernatorial bid, Sweeney said he would have an answer by the end of the month.  The Senate President would not let on which way he is leaning, saying only that he is doing his due diligence.

"By the 31st I think we'll have the focus on the party," Sweeney said.