State Sen. Scott Brown could have some well-financed and colorful competition should he run for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

A spokesman for gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos signaled Tuesday that Mihos is likely to switch races and run in a special election for the seat left vacant by the death of Edward Kennedy.

Kevin Sowyrda, a spokesman for Mihos, said the state and the Republican Party need a candidate like Mihos.

"The race needs a credible candidate with the resources to run a credible campaign," he said.

Political consultants have said a successful Senate race could cost $3 million to $5 million. Mihos spent $3.7 million of his own money on an independent bid for governor in 2006. While Sowyrda said Mihos is serious about switching races, back in July Mihos told The Sun Chronicle there was "not a chance" that he would switch.

That comment came after Foxboro Republicans urged him to abandon his run for governor and make a try for state treasurer so Charlie Baker could run unopposed in the GOP gubernatorial primary.

He insisted he was in the race for governor to stay.

Sowyrda said being a leader means being able to determine when circumstances have changed and to change tactics with them.

He said Mihos has received tremendous support from both inside and outside the state for a switch to the Senate race.

Mihos ran an quixotic campaign for governor as an independent in 2006 and got only 7 percent of the vote. His campaign became known for its comical advertisements and his one-liners in debates.

Republicans were not laughing, however, and they contend he badly hurt GOP candidate Kerry Healey while helping Democrat Deval Patrick.

Mihos has since switched back to being a Republican.

At a Republican cookout in Attleboro this summer several party activists said they had not forgiven Mihos and would not support him.

But, Mihos, the owner of a chain of convenient stores, has the name recognition and personal wealth that other potential GOP candidates for Senate lack. Some Democratic congressmen considering running have millions of dollars in their campaign accounts to use in the short campaign for the special election.

A candidate like Brown would have start fundraising from scratch and would not be able to use his state office campaign funds.