In an e-mail to The Des Moines Register, former Gov. Tom Vilsack put to rest the rumors that President-elect Barack Obama may name him the new Secretary of Agriculture.

In fact, Vilsack said he has never even been contacted by Obama or any of his aides about a position in the new administration.

“I would have to speculate that I was in fact in the running and further speculate as to why I was no longer. I do not think it prudent or appropriate to speculate about either,” Vilsack said.

At one point Washington Post columnist Al Kamen went so far as to call Vilsack a “near shoo-in” for the job.