In a recent issue of Playboy, Alec Baldwin was interviewed about everything from 30 Rock to his political ambitions. When asked if he was serious about running for office one day, Alec told Playboy, “The desire is there.” Here’s more, via HuffPo:

Playboy: Will you run for office?
Baldwin: I’ll put it this way. The desire is there; that’s one component. The other component is opportunity. A law firm in a liberal Democratic bastion in Ohio state politics sent me a binder with a cover letter that read, “Mr. Baldwin, here’s who we represent, the kinds of cases we handle, our credentials in Ohio state politics. We want you to move to Ohio and run for governor. We will launch your career.”

Playboy: Could you live in Ohio?
Baldwin: I have sometimes thought I could move to New Jersey or Connecticut and run. I’d love to run against Joe Lieberman. I have no use for him. But it’s all fantasy. I’m a carry-me-out-in-a-box New Yorker. Here, anything can happen. Who thought Eliot Spitzer would go down the way he did? Senator Hillary Clinton left to serve as secretary of state. Two of the biggest forces gone. Maybe Andrew Cuomo will run for one of their old seats. How much longer will Chuck Schumer stay as senator? After 2013 Bloomberg will be gone. What happens then?
Do I run for Congress on Long Island? What’s Tim Bishop going to do? He represents my district. People get sick, die. They’re offered lucrative deals and want to cash in and make money for their retirement. People misstep. Unfortunately, an opportunity for me may mean bad things for someone else. I don’t wish that.

Playboy: Did you turn down any (SNL) sketches for being too outrageous?

Baldwin: Probably a few. It’s hard to remember. I’m often asked if I think about going into politics. If I do, these guys will have a field day. I’ve given them so much crap to use against me… I’m thinking, If I run for political office, they’ll have a forest of material to kill me with.

[From the Huffington Post]

When Sen. Lieberman appeared on CNN’s State of the Union with John King yesterday, King asked Lieberman about Alec’s comments. The senator was all “bring it on”. Actually, his words were “make my day.” Eh. You, senator, are no Dirty Harry. But Lieberman acted with some grace:

John King: Question to Senator Lieberman. In the latest issue of Playboy Magazine, Alec Baldwin is quoted as saying “Maybe I’ll move to Connecticut. I would love to run against Joe Lieberman. I have no use for him.” [to Sen. Lieberman] You’re not up for three years. Do you want to run against Alec Baldwin? You had a good one last time.

Lieberman: [laughing] First, let me say… when you started with the Playboy interview reference, I’m glad you ended with Alec Baldwin. And not with one of the centerfolds. Ah… second, uh… make my day, I mean, you know. I must say, I have respect for Alec Baldwin as an actor and a comedian, and if he wants to run, that’s his right.

[Transcribed from CNN’s State of the Union 8/23/2009]

You know what would have been an even more graceful exit for Sen. Lieberman? If he had started talking about Tina Fey. He should have said something like, “Alec is a talented actor and comedian, but he’s no Tina Fey. Now, if she was going to run against me in Connecticut, I would get slaughtered.” But Lieberman couldn’t say that. Because it’s the truth. Fey for Preznit!

Here’s Alec Baldwin at the annual Artists vs. Writers charity softball game in East Hampton, New York on August 15th. Images thanks to WENN.com .