Ohio Senator Rob Portman admitted to having thoughts of running for president in 2016 as he criticized President Barack Obama's strategy on fighting the Islamic State.
"I'm focused, as you can tell, on 2014 and on doing my job as a senator. And that's a full plate now," the Republican told reporters Thursday at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, according to the Daily Caller.
"But after the election...I'll take a look at it," Portman said referring to the upcoming midterm elections.
The 58-year-old offered his thoughts on the daunting task facing Obama and the leaders of other nations: how to subdue the growing threat from the Sunni jihadist group the Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
Obama announced during a Wednesday night speech plans to begin U.S. air strikes against militant targets in Syria and the expansion of air strikes already underway in Iraq.
Portman said he agrees with the president's proposed strategy, but feels Obama waited too long.
"We are in a much more difficult situation because of this vacuum of leadership," the lawyer said.
"I hope that last night's speech begins the process of getting America back on track in terms of the very real terrorist threat...that the president hopes will go away," Portman said according to MSNBC. "Hope is not a strategy."
If he does decide to run, Portman is not far from the presidential track. He served as the director of the Office of Management and Budget for George W. Bush and he almost became vice president for former Republican nominees John McCain and Mitt Romney, according to the Daily Caller.
He's also a supporter of gay marriage, a rarity among his Republican colleagues.
Though Portman may be a strong contender, he is missing the charismatic flare of other Republicans like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie or Florida Senator Marco Rubio, the Daily Caller noted.
