Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the third ranking Republican in his chamber, told a group of second graders that he does not plan on running for president.
Thune made the comments to a group of students at Mark Twain Elementary School in Sioux Falls, S.D.
"Do I plan on running for president?" Thune said, according to South Dakota's KELO-TV. "I don't. I enjoy the job I have. And being the president is a very, very hard job."
Thune has repeatedly been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate or vice presidential candidate. Thune withdrew from the 2012 presidential sweepstakes in February 2011.
The senator from South Dakota is up for reelection in 2016.
Thune was also asked by the young students whether he likes his job.
"Do I like my job? I do," Thune said. "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. My job's like any other job."
