Trent Lott not ruling out gubernatorial bid

Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) is not ruling out a run for governor in his home state.

{mosads}”Some people have suggested I ought to look at that … I probably laughed and didn’t say ‘no,’ “Lott said in an interview published late Saturday in The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss. ”In politics, if you don’t deny it flat out and stomp your feet and cuss, then you must be running,”

“I learned a long time ago, never say ‘no,’” he added. “You never know what the good Lord puts in front of you.”

“I doubt that it would happen,” Lott said, however.

Lott also told The Clarion-Ledger that Congress has become a “dour” place.

“They don’t have any fun,” he said. “I think the record shows my time in leadership I actually enjoyed it and had fun. They don’t even smile any more.”

The 73-year-old Lott, who resigned in 2007, added that he former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.C.) are working on a book together and just signed a deal with a publisher.

Lott said that although he and Daschle are from different backgrounds, they “managed to work together day after day after day.”

“We had 9-11, the anthrax attack, impeachment of Clinton,” Lott said. “But we managed to cut taxes, balance the budget … have surpluses, raise military pay.”