Michigan Rep. Thaddeus McCotter says he will soon make an announcement about a White House bid in 2012.

In an interview with The Daily Caller, McCotter, a guitar-playing Republican not known nationally but who has floated himself as a possible presidential candidate, said “a decision hasn’t been made, but it will be made soon.”

“I’m not going to put a timeline on it,” he said.

It’s not exactly clear what opening McCotter, 45, a lawyer and former member of the Michigan state senate, sees himself filling in the race. He declined to assess the already crowded field of Republicans running.

“I’m focused on my candidacy and trying to get it out there … what other people do is up to them,” he said.

During a phone interview, McCotter gave brief answers to most questions about his potential candidacy:

What do you want to accomplish by running — winning or increasing your national profile? (Perry continues to hint at presidential run)

“If I run, I would be in to win.”

What niche would you fill in the race?

“I don’t know. We’ll see when I put the message out there. That’ll be up to the people.”

Would you keep your seat in Congress?

“I’m not going to play hypothetical. I haven’t even decided if I’m going to run for president or not.”

Can you say how likely it is you’ll get in the race?

“No.”

But if he does run, McCotter said he’d focus on “the great challenges the country faces,” including the economy and national security issues.

McCotter said he’s been encouraged to run by supporters, but the primary consideration as he makes a decision is the effect it will have on his family and “whether it’ll be a good experience to go through.”

On Wednesday, McCotter is set to speak at a gathering of center-right journalists. He admitted that he’s traveling to Iowa soon.

But one doubtful observer, Ford O’Connell, a former McCain-Palin campaign aide, noted that “just because someone decides to run for president does not necessarily mean they are in it to win it.”

“Some are trying to use a national stage to boost themselves to other offices or for later years,” he said.