Dobbs: Next President "Will Be an Indepenent Populist...Who Has Not Yet Entered The Race."

Yesterday we noted that, according to The Wall Street Journal, friends of Lou Dobbs say he's "seriously considering" a run for president as an independent. Here are a few excerpts from Mr. Dobbs' column for CNN.com this morning:

I can't imagine any one of the current candidates for their party's nomination being chosen by the American people to lead this nation for the next four years. I believe the person elected a year from now will be an Independent populist, a man or woman who understands the genius of this country lies in the hearts and minds of its people and not in the prerogatives and power of its elites.

As I travel around the country, my feeling about the lack of true candidates is validated by those I talk with: They are not excited about the candidates seeking their party's nomination...

...

More Americans than ever before are now identifying themselves as independents, and I hope millions of Americans in the day and weeks ahead will drop their party affiliation and become independents...

I believe that independent Americans will demand a far better choice than any of the candidates now seeking their party's nomination. I believe next November's surprise will be the election of a man or woman of great character, vision and accomplishment, a candidate who has not yet entered the race.

He's not exactly tamping down the speculation.