MSNBC's Scarborough calls politics a 'blood sport' but might run again

Former Rep. Joe Scarborough, the host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program, is not ruling out the possibility of running again for office.

In an interview with Parade magazine published online Thursday, Scarborough (R-Fla.) said he may "feel the need" to run again.

Scarborough said he believes he has "more influence doing the show" but that he could be encouraged to run again if he sees "an absence of leadership."

"My wife always tells people, 'He's not going to be able to run for anything because I'm not going to let him start a campaign.' Look what's happened to Barack Obama over the last two years or George Bush for eight. It's a blood sport," he said. "But at some point I may feel the need to run for office again."

It has been suggested that Scarborough, a member of the famous 1994 GOP freshman class, could seek the vice presidential nomination with independent New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg at the top of the ticket (Bloomberg has said he won't run).

"If someone could figure out which one of us has the capacity to be vice president, I'd like that person to explain it," Scarborough told Parade. 

Scarborough resigned from Congress in 2001, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

He explained that he could return to politics if the country continues to head in what he sees as the wrong direction.

"The same thing that had me run the first time, in 1994, when I felt the country was veering off dangerously in the wrong direction," he said. "If Washington continues to fumble issues like taking care of the debt, getting the troops home, and rebuilding our economy, my wife and I may sit down and say, 'These are critical things and maybe we need to get back in the ball.'"

This post was modified from its initial version at 12:52 p.m.

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