INDIANAPOLIS ? Democratic Gov. Joe Kernan downplayed but did not quell speculation Monday that he might change his mind and seek a full term in office next year.
Kernan acknowledged that his wife, Maggie, had advised him not to rule out a run in 2004.
''My advice to Joe is, things can change,'' Mrs. Kernan told the South Bend Tribune for a story published Monday. ''I don't believe he should shut the door on it just yet.''
Kernan cautioned reporters against ''reading more into it than you should,'' and said nothing has happened over the past three weeks that ''would cause me to change my mind.''
But he left open the possibility.
''Maggie said this is a joint decision, it's one that we will make together,'' Kernan said. ''We have not had a chance really to talk about it, but she has expressed her opinion and she will continue to do so.''
Kernan was sworn in as governor Sept. 13, just hours after Gov. Frank O'Bannon died from a stroke he suffered five days earlier.
Kernan stunned members of both major parties last December when he announced he would not run for governor in 2004. Democrats saw Kernan, who was lieutenant governor, as their best chance to extend a 16-year hold on the governor's office.
When he became acting governor after O'Bannon's stroke, he told reporters he had not changed his mind about running and did not anticipate he would. When asked about it again after he was sworn in, he said, ''I've already answered that question last week.''
Kernan has stood aside as state Sen. Vi Simpson of Ellettsville and former state and national Democratic chairman Joe Andrew have run campaigns seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.
Simpson has said she will support Kernan in any decision he makes, but Andrew said last week he was in the race to stay.
''Joe Kernan said several times that he is not going to run,'' Andrew said. ''I would not have run if he had run, but I'm running now no matter who else comes into the race between now and election day.''
Many Democrats hope Kernan, who was South Bend's mayor in 1988-97, does run, and some political analysts believe the nomination would be his for the taking if he did. They are reasons Maggie Kernan's comments fueled more speculation that Kernan might change his mind.
Mrs. Kernan told the South Bend Tribune that life has been so hectic during the past few weeks that there has not been time to think about the future.
''He's focused on a new job, getting staff in place, picking a lieutenant governor,'' she said. ''But we're both aware of the decision and people's interest in it.''
Mrs. Kernan, a vice president at 1st Source Bank in South Bend, said that deciding whether to run for governor ''is pretty far down on the priority list.''
''There's no need to rush to a decision,'' she said, adding that her advice to her husband is not to hurry. ''You might really like this. Don't paint yourself into a corner.''
When Gov. Kernan arrived to help open a company's new storage facility on the city's west side Monday, several reporters were there to question him about his wife's comments.
Kernan fielded the questions in a jovial fashion, and said he had talked to his wife Monday morning after news of her statements spread.
''She called and said, 'I understand that I stirred something up here,' but said, 'It's nothing you can't handle,''' the governor said, laughing. ''That's what she said.''
But, he said, ''We have not had the chance to talk about this, we have not had the chance to think about this, and I don't know when that would be. I've got my hands full and have had for the last three weeks and I'm going to focus on the business at hand.''
Kernan also said he did not anticipate naming a nominee for lieutenant governor this week, but would not rule that out.
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