If his friend John McCain is elected president on Tuesday – and he is optimistic that will happen – U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn says he's not interested in a cabinet post.
Coburn would have the right to claim some sort of reward. He was one of McCain's first supporters, jumping in at a time during the Republican primaries when McCain was looking for friends.
Coburn and McCain have been allies in the fight against pork in Congress.
Coburn spoke at Monday's Tulsa Metro Chamber luncheon and someone asked him if he would accept a cabinet post in a McCain administration.
He said he wants to stay in the Senate and watch McCain as closely as he has watched others.
He added that he fully expects McCain to win Tuesday.
Earlier in his speech, Coburn he wouldn't allow election results to impact his overall optimism for the nation.
"I don't get worried about elections," Coburn said. "The reason I don't is there is always another one."
Coburn admitted some weariness with the extended presidential election process.
"Like you, I'll be very happy when tomorrow is over."
In response to another question, Coburn said his ability to continue his habit of holding up funding bills he dislikes will depend on how large a Democratic majority results from the election.
If Democrats end up with a 56-vote majority, Coburn said he'll likely continue his practice unabated. If the majority is 58, he said his ability to do so will be much more dependent on the topic of the legislation involved.
It takes 60 votes in the Senate to break a filibuster, a rule that Coburn has used to his advantage to place "holds" on bills, especially spending bills, that he dislikes but doesn't have a majority to defeat.
