GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Rep. Justin Amash downplayed recent reports he is privately mulling a run for Sen. Carl Levin's seat if the latter decides not to seek a seventh term.

The conservative National Review magazine last week cited unnamed sources saying Amash likely would throw his hat into the race if Levin retires.

After a town hall Tuesday, Feb. 19, in Gaines Township, Amash disputed he'd met with confidants to discuss a possible run, as the National Review reported.

Still, Amash left the possibility of a run on the table.

"I'm certainly not the source of the story, nor to my knowledge is anyone associated with me," he said. "I've always said I would keep all options on the table. That's always been true, it has nothing to do with the Senate in particular."

The report prompted a Texas-based libertarian political action committee to pledge a six- to seven-figure donation to an Amash Senate run. The group, Liberty for All, also started a "Draft Justin for Michigan" Facebook page.

Michigan political consultants last week said although Amash would be a formidable candidate given his celebrity among libertarian and Tea Party voters, his outspoken nature could be a liability for Republicans.

"He's a divisive figure, not just in the general electorate, but even within the Republican Party because he's one of the most conservative members and he's a maverick," said Bill Ballenger, publisher of the Inside Michigan Politics newsletter.

Levin, 78, is expected to announce soon whether he will retire. As to his Senate aspirations, Amash said Tuesday "we've had no discussions or plans or anything."

"If anybody asked me about any position, if you asked me 'Would you ever consider running for president,' I mean, yeah, sure," Amash said. "I mean, I might run for county commissioner someday, I don't know."

"I don't take things off the table," he added. "I'd say if I'm being effective or if I find that doing something else allows me to be more effective, then I would consider it. But I'm certainly happy where I'm at. I feel I'm able to accomplish a lot of things from this position."

Amash, who explains each of his votes on Facebook and is a regular on Twitter, said the question of whether Levin will retire is likely a hot topic of conversation among people, "whether they're a congressman or not."

But on "the idea that we've huddled together and had secret meetings" to discuss a run for Levin's seat," Amash said, "I don't know who came up with that stuff."

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