U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has no desire to jump to the U.S. Supreme Court. But it sure is good publicity to be placed on someone's short list.

The South Carolina Republican said Wednesday he was flattered to hear his name mentioned by the nation's ranking Senate Democrat as a suitable Supreme Court nominee. But he said he's content to stay where he is, for now.

"I'm honored but have no desire to leave the U.S. Senate," Graham said in a statement released by his office.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said Graham was one of four suitable Republican senators who "would be outstanding Supreme Court members."

Speculation has swirled that any nomination from President Bush might come from outside the judiciary after several of the president's previous lower court nominees were caught up in a nasty filibuster between Senate Democrats and Republicans. Graham and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., were seen as key negotiators in striking a filibuster compromise.

Legal watchers expect there could soon be vacancies on the nine-member court, starting with Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who has thyroid cancer.

College of Charleston political scientist Bill Moore said Graham has the right conservative credentials to represent Bush's legal points of view on the high court but that Graham's independent streak on the political front probably scratched him from serious White House consideration long ago.

"I don't think it's realistic," Moore said of a potential Bush-Graham nomination. Graham hasn't "uniformly endorsed all the policies and positions of the president."

The bigger impact of Reid's endorsement, Moore said, is that it further cements Graham's credentials as a moderate who can work with both sides of the aisle. "It's a growing national recognition of the roll that he is playing in the U.S. Senate," Moore said.

Graham's office declined to say whether he would be interested in serving on the court in the future or whether his current "not interested" position was open to change.

"I fully understand and appreciate there are many conservative, strict constructionists who are qualified to serve on the Supreme Court," Graham's statement said. "I'm hopeful this means that another pro-life, social and fiscal conservative will be acceptable for unanimous Senate confirmation to the Supreme Court."

Graham, 49, was elected to the Senate in 2002, succeeding Strom Thurmond. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1981 and has served as a prosecutor and defense lawyer in the U.S. Air Force. But he has little bench experience beyond his reserve appellate military judge post.

Whoever gets nominated for the black robe, Graham hopes for a smooth and quick endorsement from Senate colleagues. "I'm hopeful the Senate will treat this nominee fairly and decently," Graham's statement said. "I sincerely hope they receive an up or down vote."

Other senators mentioned by Reid include U.S. Sens. Mel Martinez of Florida, Mike DeWine of Ohio and Idaho's Mike Crapo.