Rep. Dingell will seek 30th term in 2012

Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the longest serving member of the House of Representatives, will seek reelection in 2012, the 84-year-old Democrat said Thursday.

"It's the greatest job in the world," Dingell told the Detroit News in an interview. "I can help people and ... make things better, and I represent some of the finest people on earth."

Dingell, who holds the honorary title "Dean of the House," told the paper he's already fundraising for 2012 and that he's not worried about the looming redistricting battle in Michigan, saying he's already survived "three bad redistrictings."

The state will lose one House seat this year.

Despite a nasty 2010 race, which Dingell said included death threats lobbed at both he and his wife, the Democrat said he has no qualms about running again.

Dingell ultimately won easily in 2010, but the race was closer than he's used to. The Democrat defeated Republican Rob Steele by 17 points.