Thune on run for White House in 2016: ‘We are not that hard up yet’

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) on Thursday said the GOP’s 2016 field of potential candidates for the White House is “not that hard up” that he’d be needed to jump in. 

“I always tell people we are not that hard up yet. We’ve got a great field. It will be fun,” he said when asked if he had any interest in a run, during a talk hosted by National Journal. 

{mosads}Thune leads the Senate Commerce Committee and also holds the No. 3 position in leadership. He was seen as a potential candidate in 2012 before opting against a run early in that cycle. He was also seen as a potential vice presidential candidate at that time.

While the South Dakota Republican has not definitively taken the option off the table, he has not been making the staffing and travel moves of other potential candidates. Thune is up for reelection in the Senate in 2016.

Furthermore, his national communications director is moving over to take a press secretary job with the new fundraising committee for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, another expected GOP presidential candidate. Thune’s director, AshLee Strong, confirmed the move Thursday.

The Senate has already produced a number of prospective 2016 candidates on the Republican side, including Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.).