U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has been mentioned in past presidential election years as a possible candidate for vice president. But not this year.

“I’ve been approached before,” Durbin, who is assistant majority leader of the Senate, said last week. “I never knew how serious it was.”

Durbin made the comments in an interview about the search for a running mate by Illinois’ other U.S. senator, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

In years past, Durbin said, he’s meant it when he said no to vice-presidential overtures.

“The irony is, this time, I really want to help this guy,” Durbin said. “It’s a good thing that I’m out of the running, because I would be tempted. I think he has a chance to do some significant things for this country.”