The Hill News

Rep. Mike Pence (Ind.), the House's third-ranking Republican, was tight-lipped Wednesday in reaction to reports he could be leaving his leadership post with eyes on a higher office.

In one of his first comments since his potential move was reported, Pence, the GOP conference chairman, said that he is focused on next week's midterm elections and will decide on his political future at some point after that.

{mosads}"I think as you can see today, we're completely focused on electing a Republican majority on Capitol Hill and giving the best governor in America the best state legislature in America," he said in an interview with WTHI television. "We'll stay focused on that until Election Day and we'll let the future take care of itself."

Pence is a favorite of conservative Republicans in a year that saw the rise of the Tea Party movement. Attendees of the Values Voter Summit, an annual gathering of social-conservative activists in Washington, in September surprisingly chose the Indiana congressman as their pick for president in a straw poll.

Other potential GOP candidates in the field included former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.), former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.) and Sen. Jim De! Mint (S.C.).

Pence has also been rumored as a potential ! candidat e for governor and Senate.

In the weeks before Election Day, Pence has traveled across Indiana on his own behalf and in support of candidates for the State Legislature and Congress.