The Hill News

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said Thursday that he'll seek reelection to a sixth term in 2014.

Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee, told the Associated Press that being senator "is the job that I want."

"This is the job I'm enjoying doing," Kerry said in Boston, per the AP.

Kerry's insistence that he's focused on being senator comes in light of rumors that he's long sought to become secretary of State, perhaps succeeding Hillary Clinton in that role. Clinton has said she would step down after 2! 012.

President Obama would presumably have to be reelected in 2012 for Kerry to be eligible to become secretary of state, giving Kerry a two-year window to change his mind in case Obama were to offer him the top diplomatic post.