GOFFSTOWN - Former New York Governor and Republican George Pataki sounded a lot like a presidential candidate Thursday in a roundtable discussion about the nation’s debt crisis at St. Anselm College.

“I’m seriously thinking about running,” Pataki told reporters outside the event.

Pataki said he was discouraged by the Republican primary debate June 13 and the candidates’ lack of discussion on the debt problem.

“This is the key issue facing our country,” he said. “We’re not going to create jobs, we’re not going to have a better future for our children unless the spending and debt gets under control.”

When Pataki was asked when he might finalize his decision on becoming a presidential candidate, he responded: “I don’t want to put a specific date on it. I understand that sooner is better.”

Pataki was the focus of a roundtable discussion Thursday to talk about the federal government’s debt problems at St. Anselm College’s Institute of Politics, joined by area lawmakers including House Speaker William O’Brien, R-Mont Vernon and Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas.