Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad says he's "flattered," but he doesn't want to be considered for vice president.

The Des Moines Register reports 1996 GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole broached the idea of Branstad as No. 2 on the ticket. Dole reportedly called Branstad this weekend to let him know he would be endorsing Mitt Romney for president, and said he'd like to recommend Iowa's governor as a possible running mate.

"I said, 'I'm not interested,' " Branstad is quoted as saying in The Register. "I was flattered, and said, 'That's not something I ever even thought of.' "

Iowa kicks off the 2012 presidential election with caucuses on Jan. 3.

Branstad was something of a "comeback kid" in 2010 when he defeated Democratic incumbent Chet Culver to win the governorship. It's a job Branstad previously held from 1983 to 1999.