QUICK TAKES - Jan. 6, 2009

“Hardball” host Chris Matthews is expected to let his bosses know in the coming weeks whether he’s going to pursue a Senate run in Pennsylvania or renew his contract at MSNBC.

In recent weeks, network executives have spoken to Matthews about his interest in running for the U.S. Senate against Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, network sources said.

The cable host is currently in talks with MSNBC about re-upping his deal as host of “Hardball” and the syndicated “The Chris Matthews Show.”

NBC executives appear confident that he will ultimately decide to forgo a Senate bid. “I think he’s going to be here for a long time,” MSNBC President Phil Griffin told the Hollywood Reporter last month.

In an interview with Broadcasting & Cable, NBC News President Steve Capus said flatly that Matthews wasn’t going to leave the network for politics. “Look, if he were running for office, he wouldn’t be on TV,” he said.

-- Matea Gold