Thune Likely to Skip White House Bid

South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune has a dilemma on his hands. He’d love to run for president next year. But it would be a long shot, while he is quickly rising up the totem pole in the Senate, scoring coveted seats on the influential Finance and Budget committees, Politico reports.

Sen. John Thune

Most knowledgeable Republicans expect him to stay in the Senate, and Thune himself made noises in that direction in an interview with Politico.

“It’s a different scenario maybe than some of the other candidates who don’t have a job,” he says, laughing. “This is a great place. This is a great job. We all complain about it. It’s frustrating at times, ... but it is a place where ultimately you can be engaged in the big debates about the issues.”

But he’s still considering a presidential bid.