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Could “Mr. Independent” — as Lou Dobbs promotes himself — become “Mr. Independence Party”? A Politico piece this morning ponders news that the illegal-immigration foe, Birther and former CNN anchor is considering a run for president in 2012. What’s not clear is what banner he might run under. Minnesota’s Dean Barkley, quoted by Politico, hopes it’ll be his Independence Party.

“Lou Dobbs, I think, would be a perfect candidate for us,” said Barkley, the onetime senator who founded the Reform Party (now known as the Independence Party). “We were hoping he would have run last time.”

Anything could happen, as Barkley’s experience managing Jesse Ventura’s 1998 campaign attests. Also interviewed for the Politico piece: Ad guy Bill Hillsman, who lead communications efforts behind successful outsider campaigns by Ventura and the late Sen. Paul Wellstone. But Politico says neither Hillsman nor other “leading third-party operatives” have been contacted by Dobbs’ people — yet.

(Hat tip: David Brauer on Twitter.)