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POLITICAL PLAYBOOK 
Governor Profiles from PoliticsUSA Electoral College: Confused about how that darn thing works? G. Gordon Liddy's site explains the electoral college. California's Presidential Politics: Why is California so crucial in the Presidential election? Read PoliticsUSA's profile of the Golden State. Dan Quayle Quotes: VP-wannabees will wanna avoid saying anything this silly.
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Posted May 29, 1996
As Bob Dole scales back his suit-and-tie image and steps up his attacks on Bill Clinton's "liberal" record, the head-to-head summer presidential campaign is at last underway. But while we have learned much about how Bob Dole is engineering his challenge to Bill Clinton, a major question, whose answer could redefine Dole's candidacy, remains unanswered: who will be his running mate? From the Colin Powell rumors that began the day after the general announced he wouldn't make his own run, to the electoral-map strategizing that has put the spotlight on several big-state governors, that call from Bob Dole has got the political establishment sizing up a wide field of candidates. And it has some of those candidates carefully positioning themselves. With the public's current distrust of Washington and a Republican emphasis on "devolving" power to the states, the list is unusually devoid of men (the one woman oft mentioned, New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman, has said she's not interested) who walk the halls of Congress. Of course, the VP choice has limited significance beyond its advancement of the running-mate's career. Even the unbearable lightness of Dan Quayle couldn't derail George Bush in 1988. And although Al Gore has busied himself with projects like "reinventing government," the job remains mostly about funerals and low-ranking dignitaries. Still, the VP is only a heartbeat away, and if elected, Dole would be the oldest president in U.S. history ... Here are some top contenders for Dole's tap:
Resume: John Engler, 47, has been governor of Michigan since 1991. Previously, he spent 20 years in the state legislature. He has built a popular record as a hard-nosed (opponents say mean-spirited) tax-cutter and welfare reformer in a state that has traditionally been governed by Democrats. How He'd Help: Michigan is another close call, and a must-win for Dole. Engler is also a high-profile, credentialed conservative who would represent well the kind of state-level reforms that Dole emphasizes. How He'd Hurt: Opponents might successfully portray Engler as nasty, an image that has dogged Dole in the past and which he must avoid this time. Local papers have also questioned his absence from Vietnam thanks to his being two pounds overweight. Making his Case: Perhaps too aggressively -- Engler's positioning has drawn fire from other hopefuls: "I don't know how, particularly, John Engler finds the time he spends -- an inordinate time to me -- in Washington," Illinois governor Jim Edgar told The New York Times. Ring, ring? The most-discussed candidate may not be the most likely.
Resume: John Kasich, 44, is a seven-term Ohio Congressman, and chairman of the House Budget Committee. He is one of the most fervent budget hawks in Congress, and the principal architect of the House's balanced budget proposal. How He'd Help: His boyish looks and youthful exuberance would soften Dole's old-man image, and his regular-guy style would help offset Dole's stuffed-suit quality. How He'd Hurt: Despite his skill at maintaining an "outsider" persona, Kasich still comes from inside the dreaded Beltway. Making his Case: Quietly. Ring, ring? Kasich's stock seems to be rising. Will it be too hard for Dole to dial that 202 D.C. area code?
Resume: Dan Lundgren, 49, is California's attorney general. He's established a conservative record on crime and immigration. Lundgren moved up the list when California governor Pete Wilson ended his short-lived campaign for president, freeing up state pols like himself for service to Dole. How He'd Help: California is the electoral jackpot, and absolutely vital to a November win for Dole. Lundgren is quite popular within the state, and would project youth. How He'd Hurt: A somewhat obscure choice, with little experience. Making his Case: Lundgren reportedly whispered to Dole last fall that he'd back him as soon as Wilson left the race. He's also reportedly getting a boost from House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Ring, ring? A shot at sudden fame depends on how Dole sees his chances in California.
Resume: John McCain, 59, is a second-term Senator from Arizona and previously served two terms in the House of Representatives. How He Helps: McCain commands special respect in part because he spend more than five years as a prisoner of war after being shot down over Vietnam. Together, McCain and Dole would constitute the ultimate war-hero ticket. How He'd Hurt: Along with Kasich, McCain is Dole's other Congressional choice. While he has only been in Washington slightly longer than Kasich, he has more of an insider image. That is only compounded by his membership in the "Keating Five," a group of Senators scolded for their association with the owner of a failed Savings and Loan in the late 1980s. McCain was also a chief backer of Texas Senator Phil Gramm during Gramm's challenge to Dole for the GOP nomination. Further, McCain hails from a state that is already likely to go to Dole in November. Making His Case: McCain says he doesn't want the job, but his name continues to circulate. He won Dole's favor by putting his POW credibility behind Dole's backing of the dispatch of U.S. troops to Bosnia last December. Ring, ring? Possible, but don't bother wearing a beeper.
Resume: Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Vietnam War hero, Powell has resigned from the military. He had the punditocracy in overdrive and the White House in a cold sweat last fall as he pondered what may well have been a successful Presidential run of his own. Powell continues to specifically rule out a vice-presidential run, but he is Dole's dream running mate and Republicans persist in wooing him onto the ticket. How He'd Help: Quite simply, Powell is the most popular public figure in the country today. How He'd Hurt: Might actually overshadow Dole in stature. Plus, the right wing of the party has never trusted Powell, who has expressed support for abortion rights and gun control. Making his Case: Saying he doesn't want the job only makes Powell more attractive to an electorate suspicious of political ambition. Ring, ring? The one guy who won't return Dole's calls.
Resume: Tommy Thompson, 54, has been governor of Wisconsin since 1987. He has received national acclaim for turning Wisconsin into a "laboratory" for welfare reform, and has cut the state's welfare rolls by about 30 percent. His latest plan has even won the support of President Clinton himself. How He'd Help: Like Engler, Thompson would lend credence to Dole's pitch for a renewed emphasis on state government and welfare reform. How He'd Hurt: Of the Midwest governors Dole is considering, Thompson's state would bring the fewest electoral votes to the ticket. Making his Case: Thompson downplays his own chances. But Dole recently traveled to Wisconsin to deliver a major welfare speech, citing Thompson's reforms as a model for the nation. Ring, ring? Worth checking your messages, but don't get your hopes up. Resume: George Voinovich, 59, is Governor of Ohio and for 10 years was mayor of Cleveland, a city he rescued from bankruptcy. How He'd Help: Like most of those on Dole's list, Voinovich hails from a closely contested major state whose 21 electoral votes will be crucial for a win in November. No Republican has ever been elected without winning Ohio. How He'd Hurt: Not well-known nationally, and may be a little plain for the media mania of the campaign. His support of a 1992 tax-increase could also clash with the tax-bashing campaign Dole wants to run. Making his Case: Imperfectly. Voinovich got off to an aggressive start when an advisor produced a promo video ("Working Harder, Working Smarter") and sent it out to political heavies and to Dole himself. But he may have shot himself in the foot by offering an ill-advised soundbite challenging the wisdom of repealing Bill Clinton's 4.3-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax when Dole was pushing the idea hard. Ring, ring? There's still hope -- but better start puckering to make up for the gas-tax gaffe. Voinovich may not want the call anyway, as he's said to be gearing up for a 1998 challenge to Ohio Senator John Glenn.
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