Ben Affleck - President Ben Affleck? Argo Star Hints At Political Ambitions

President Ben Affleck? Argo Star Hints At Political Ambitions

Ben Affleck has responded to speculation that he is considering running for Senate, providing John Kerry's seat opens up. Several names have been mentioned for the possible vacancy including Scott Brown and Mike Capuano, though Democrat Affleck has also been linked with a run. He would need 10,000 certified signatures to enter the race, and didn't exactly deny the rumors when quizzed by CBS' Bob Schieffer this week.

Kerry's position in the Senate would open up should he become Secretary of State, and Affleck said, "One never knows. I'm not one to get into conjecture," when asked whether he would be interested in the job. The Argo director added, "I do have a great fondness and admiration for the political process in this country. It's a big deal for me to come down here and be on your show that I've watched so much, but I'm not going to get into speculation about my political future." Numerous celebrities, including George Clooney and Alec Baldwin have hinted at political aspirations, though Affleck would arguably be the most popular of the three should he run as a Democrat. The Hollywood star has long campaigned for charitable causes, and founded the Eastern Congo Initiative in a bid to improve conditions in the country. "I like to be involved. Right now, I'm really happy being involved from the outside in government, advocating for the Congolese, taking this movie that I've made 'Argo' and it's really become a springboard for dialogue about our relationship with Iran, which is, as Hillary Clinton said, the most pressing foreign policy issue today. So, I've got a lot on my plate," he said before the House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday (December 19, 2012).

Affleck's Argo is up for Best Motion Picture (Drama) at the Golden Globes this year. It is considered a frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars.