[img_assist|nid=2553|title=Snowe and McKernan|desc=Olympia Snowe and John McKernan at the Maine Republican Convention in May. Politicker file photo.|link=none|align=left|width=400|height=300]MINNEAPOLIS -- U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe said she would not take a job in presidential nominee John McCain’s administration if given the opportunity.

“No,” she said when asked by PolitickerME Wednesday. “I like what I’m doing in the Senate.”

However, had she been offered the vice presidency she would have “seriously considered it,” though she was never asked.

Snowe and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins are both close to McCain. Several Republican leaders have speculated that they would be on the top of McCain’s list for a cabinet job, if the Republican is elected.

If one were to get pulled to the executive branch before her term was up, the governor would appoint a replacement to serve until the state is able to hold an election. Therefore, if they were appointed in the next two years, it wouldn’t be in the best interests of the Republican Party – as Gov. John Baldacci would most likely pick a Democrat.

Snowe’s term is up in 2012, and said it’s too early to give thought to running for reelection. Collins is running for reelection this year and faces a tough challenge from U.S. Rep. Tom Allen (D-Portland).

“They’re both leaders in the Senate, and clearly well respected…” said Maine’s National Committeeman Richard Bennett. “It certainly could happen. I know they both enjoy serving in the Senate, but I can see why John McCain would want them in his cabinet.”

Given the close margins in the U.S. Senate, Bennett said it would be unlikely for one of them to give up their seat under a Democratic governor.

“It may be unlikely that one of them will be tapped in the early years of a McCain administration,” Bennett said.

Maine House Republican Leader Josh Tardy (R-Newport) said both Snowe and Collins are both very popular among their constituents, and very influential in Washington.

“It would be very reasonable to assume that they would be on a bunch of short lists,” Tardy said.

Another Maine politician close to McCain is former Gov. John “Jock” McKernan, who is married to Snowe. He said Thursday that he would do anything he could to help McCain, but would rather do so on a part-time basis.

Maine’s U.S. Senators have a history of moving on to bigger and better things in politics. Democrat George Mitchell served as Senate Majority Leader in 1989, and in 1995 became active in the Northern Ireland peace process as US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland. Democrat Edmund Muskie was U.S. Secretary of State in 1980 and ran for President in 1972. Republican Bill Cohen was Secretary of Defense in 1997. Republican Margaret Chase Smith became the first woman to be nominated for President on the floor of the Republican National Convention in 1964, losing to Barry Goldwater. Hannibal Hamlin was vice president in 1961.

“I wouldn’t be too surprised to see either of them run for Governor or move on to something bigger and better,” said former Maine Republican National Committeewoman Karen Raye.