U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., is a guy some Republicans want to see a run for president. After his bruising 2004 win that knocked Democratic heavyweight Tom Daschle out of a seat, Thune can be forgiven if he takes his 2010 re-election bid with less concern and actually looks ahead at a 2012 presidential bid.

But he might want to watch his words, as he’s received some attention for a line in a CNN profile. Downplaying any presidential aspirations, Thune obliquely referenced the important Iowa caucuses in the selection process, speaking thusly: “I may go across Iowa, but it will be to get somewhere.” That caused Democratic activist Taylor West to tweet that Some of us think Iowa IS somewhere.

Of course, Thune has been in Iowa before, including earlier this year when he spoke at an event set by Iowa 5th District Congressman Steve King and again Sept. 1 at an Ag Committee hearing in Sioux City. (He’s pictured at right, beside U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.)

Speaking of the 2012 presidential contest, Republicans with either vague or profound thoughts, however coyly expressed, of running to unseat President Barack Obama are coming through Iowa with repetition. We had Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Saturday in Des Moines, former New York Gov. George Pataki spoke at a Scott County GOP function last night and on Friday and Saturday Texas Congressman Ron Paul will appear in Ames and Des Moines events. Paul, who has a strong Libertarian bent in with his Republicanism, had a small but impassioned band of supporters during the run-up to the January 2008 Iowa caucuses.