Whitman, Rising GOP Star, Speaks at Nixon Library : Politics: Abortion foes picket the New Jersey governor, a possible vice-presidential nominee in ’96.

New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, who has been mentioned as a likely vice-presidential nominee in 1996, Thursday defended Republican efforts to restructure government and denounced opponents who “are always trying to portray us as being against everything.”

While Whitman would not rule out accepting a vice-presidential nomination, she said in a speech at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace that she is “very happy” with the governorship and “I have no intentions of going anywhere.”

Whitman, the first woman to govern New Jersey, praised Republican governors around the country, including California Gov. Pete Wilson, for cutting taxes, restructuring welfare, and downsizing and streamlining government.

She also chastised attempts to portray Republicans as opponents of the poor and minorities, saying Democrats “claim we have no heart, hoping voters won’t use their heads.”

About 20 protesters picketed outside the library, criticizing Whitman’s support of abortion rights.

“We think this is . . . a fatal flaw” for Whitman, said Bob Cielnicky, a Fountain Valley resident and Republican activist. “She’s bringing termites into the platform of the Republican Party.”

Whitman did not directly refer to abortion in her speech, but said, “There is too much at stake to allow our party to be diverted from our central mission by issues that, quite frankly, do not enter into the political equation of most Americans. . . .

“The months ahead will produce many distractions for all of us. During the battle for the presidential nomination, many will try to divide our country. Rather than responding to their efforts, we must remain fixed on our determination to build and to hope.”

After the speech, Whitman told the audience of about 400 that abortion is a “deep and personal issue,” and said she would like to see it taken out of the Republican platform.

“There are good, honest people who disagree on this issue,” Whitman said. “We need to focus on what we can do to stop this cycle of unwanted pregnancy.”

But Barbara Warburton, a protester from Huntington Beach, said the Republican party is the “party for life.” Whitman cannot be an abortion rights advocate and be aligned with the party, she said.

“All human life is sacred and she does not stand with Republican women,” Warburton said.