WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna said Tuesday that New York GOP leaders asked him to challenge U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer in the 2016 election, but he quickly rejected the idea.

Hanna, a moderate Republican from the Utica area, said he told party leaders he wants to focus on his third term representing the 22nd Congressional District. He also advised Republicans to find a candidate with broad statewide appeal who supports gay rights and abortion rights.

"They need someone with legitimate, provable credentials downstate," Hanna said in an interview with syracuse.com. "And frankly, if you look around, I don't think there are too many Republicans with those credentials."

Hanna, 64, now in his third term in the House, said he's not surprised that Republican leaders approached him about the Senate seat. He has frequently parted with conservatives in the House Republican caucus on social issues, and has been an outspoken supporter of gay rights and abortion rights.

His advice to the New York GOP?

"Quit trying to find people who are considered by the extremes of the party to be ideologically pure," Hanna said. "The environment, women's health care and gay rights are issues that the statewide party has not been on board with, and those are visceral issues to people in a Democratic state" like New York.

Hanna also had some kind words for Schumer, who is in line to become the Democratic leader in the Senate if he is re-elected next year. Schumer has used his clout in the Senate to help Hanna on issues affecting the 22nd Congressional District.

"I work with him, and he has been good to my office," Hanna said. "I have found him to be approachable."

He added that any New York member of Congress who rises to a leadership role, regardless of political party, "should be good for New York." But Hanna said he is not endorsing Schumer and will likely support the GOP nominee.

The New York Post reported Monday that Hanna is among four people on a New York Republican Party short list of potential challengers to Schumer, D-N.Y.

The Post said the others on the list are Reps. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook; Peter King, R-Long Island; and Manhattan GOP Chairwoman Adele Malpass.

Gibson, who has already announced plans to leave Congress at the end of his term next year, is widely rumored to be interested in running for governor.

King, the dean of New York's House Republican delegation, is on a path to run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.

No matter who receives the GOP designation to challenge Schumer, it will be a formidable challenge.

Schumer, 64, has never lost an election for public office, dating to his successful run for the New York State Assembly at age 23. He was the youngest member of the state Legislature since Theodore Roosevelt. Schumer also served 18 years as a House member before he was elected to the first of his three Senate terms in 1998.

He is a strong fundraiser whose campaign and political committee raised more than $28 million since 2009. During that time, Schumer has also raised money and campaigned for most of the new Democratic senators elected to office.