Republican George Allen, a former senator and governor of Virginia, will run for the United States Senate in 2012, he announced Monday.

In a video posted on his website, Allen announced his candidacy with pledges of an American comeback and a wise and frugal government to a montage of American flags and other patriotic symbols like the Statue of Liberty.

You know what weve been getting from Washington? Allen queried. Overspending, finger pointing and government mandates. Whats missing? Listening.

Allen, who has a consulting business in Old Town, covets Sen. Jim Webbs (D-Va.) seat. Webb beat Allen by a slim margin about 9,300 votes when the two butted heads in 2006 for the same seat.