Lou Dobbs fuels political speculation

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Former CNN host Lou Dobbs fueled speculation about his political future by saying during a radio talk show he's mulling over a U.S. presidential run.

Dobbs, who left CNN less than two weeks ago, made his presidential ambitions explicit on former Sen. Fred Thompson's radio show Monday, Politico reported.

When asked if he might make a White House bid in 2012, Dobbs answered, "Yes is the answer."

"I'm going to be talking some more with some folks who want me to listen in the next few weeks," Dobbs told Thompson, the former U.S. senator from Tennessee who sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2008. "Right now I'm fortunate to have a number of wonderful options."

Dobbs's political future still is riddled with questions, the Washington publication said. Dobbs, known as "Mr. Independent" to his fans and viewers, hasn't ruled out a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2012 in New Jersey and hasn't revealed his party affiliation.

Dobbs's criticism of the Obama administration on a number of fronts and his conservative stance on illegal immigration raises the prospect that he could seek office as a Republican, analysts said. However, his commentary on CNN plus his book, "Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit," could mean he may run as an independent.

"Lou Dobbs, I think, would be a perfect candidate for us," said former U.S. Sen. Dean Barkley from Minnesota, the founder of the Minnesota Reform Party who managed former Gov. Jesse Ventura's successful third-party campaign in 1998. "We were hoping he would have run last time."