Bush, Battling Rumors, Says Quayle Will Stay

Trying to squelch a new round of rumors, President Bush vehemently denied Wednesday that Vice President Dan Quayle would be forced off the ticket.

Quayle’s status as his running mate is “very certain,” Bush told reporters during a photo session. He also complained about a “feeding frenzy” of rumors about his supposed ill health and said he was feeling fine.

“My health is pretty good,” he said, challenging members of the press corps--”anybody 67 or over”--to a race. “It’s a crazy time on rumors.”

Quayle himself said on CNN’s “Larry King Live” Wednesday night that he has the President’s “complete confidence” and that if he thought he was a hindrance to Bush’s reelection, he would resign.

“I’m totally dedicated to the President. He knows that,” Quayle said. “Believe me, if I thought I was hurting the ticket I’d be gone.”

The vice president, a staunch foe of abortion, also said that he would support his daughter if she became pregnant and chose to terminate her pregnancy.

King asked Quayle what he would do “if your daughter grew up, had a problem, came to you with that problem all fathers fear? How would you deal with it?”

“I hope I never do have to deal with it,” Quayle said. “But obviously I would counsel her and talk to her, and support her on whatever decision she made. . . . I’d hope that she wouldn’t make that decision.”

Quayle and his wife, Marilyn, have two sons and a daughter.

The Republican Party advocates a constitutional amendment to ban abortions; Bush and Quayle have said they favor abortion only in cases of rape, incest or a threat to the mother’s life.