Sen. John Thune says he won't be running for president in 2016 because he likes the job he has.
That's what the South Dakota Republican told a group of second-grade students while visiting his state this week during the congressional recess,
according to The Hill newspaper.
"Do I plan on running for president? I don't," Thune said during a visit reported by KELO-TV to Mark Twain Elementary School in Sioux Falls. "I enjoy the job I have. And being the president is a very, very hard job."
Editor's Note: Use This Single Loophole to Pay Zero Taxes. See Video
Thune, who heads the Senate Republican Conference, was an early contender for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination but dropped out of the race. He has been mentioned as a possible candidate again for another run in 2016, when he will also be up for re-election to the Senate.
Asked if he liked his job, Thune told the students, "I do," but he added that it was a lot like "any other job."
"You know, I'm going to tell you guys something about it. Any job you have, there are going to be good parts about it and bad parts about it," he said.
© 2013 Newsmax. All rights reserved.