McCain May Be Harboring Thoughts of Being No. 2

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the sometimes bitter rival of George W. Bush for the GOP presidential nomination, told a Republican governor this week that he would be willing to serve as Bush’s vice presidential running mate if the Texas governor asked him, sources said.

But it was unclear whether the conversation with Pennsylvania Gov. Thomas J. Ridge, which was first reported Thursday night by Associated Press, would in fact put McCain seriously in play as an option for Bush, who is nearing a decision on his running mate.

Sources close to McCain say that when Ridge reported the senator’s potential interest to the Bush campaign, a senior aide there “received the news coolly.” And despite McCain’s signal in his Tuesday afternoon conversation with Ridge, aides to the senator said the Bush campaign had not requested any of the financial or other background information usually demanded of a potential vice president.

Further, McCain aides said that he stressed to Ridge that he did not expect to be picked, or want to be picked; in that sense, the aides argued, McCain did not change his previous position. McCain has always indicated he did not expect or wish to be selected, though he’s never closed the door so firmly that his name has dropped out of speculation.

“I’m very dubious because neither John McCain’s position nor Gov. Bush’s interest has really changed,” said one senior McCain advisor.

McCain himself downplayed the possibility in an interview on CNN Thursday night. “It’s a hypothetical because I don’t believe I’m in the process. But if Gov. Bush called I’d certainly like to talk to him about the weather and how things are going and how good a campaign he’s running,” McCain said.

Still McCain’s comments to Ridge could increase pressure on Bush to consider his popular rival. Already, McCain aides said, some House Republicans were circulating a letter urging Bush to select the senator.

Other names prominently mentioned as a potential running mate for Bush include Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating, Nebraska Sen. Charles Hagel and former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, the man leading the vice presidential search process. Some Republicans worry that none of those names carry enough electoral juice to help Bush in a tight race; most recent polls have shown Bush’s lead over Vice President Al Gore narrowing.

According to Associated Press, Ridge--an abortion rights supporter whose name has been prominently mentioned as a potential running mate for Bush--said in the call that he did not believe he was still under serious consideration. One McCain advisor said Ridge told the senator he believed McCain was the best remaining choice for Bush.

AP reported that Cheney asked McCain’s staff Thursday to provide telephone numbers where the Arizona senator can be reached this weekend and next. According to AP, McCain aides believe that Cheney sought the telephone numbers merely so Bush could give the senator a “courtesy call” once he selects a running mate. Indeed, some Republicans say Cheney has asked for similar information from other candidates, including Keating and Hagel.

In his sometimes bitter, often electrifying primary duel with Bush, McCain demonstrated enormous appeal for independents and moderates in both parties--the swing voters who decide national elections. But given the Bush family’s priority on loyalty, most around the Texas governor are dubious that he would seriously consider the outspoken, even unpredictable, McCain as his running mate.

Bush said in an interview broadcast Thursday on CNN’s “Larry King Live” that he wants to be able to work closely with his vice presidential choice.

“There’s been some great examples of people being able to work together in recent history,” Bush said. “I think President Clinton and Vice President Gore had a good relationship. I know my dad and President Reagan did. And Vice President Quayle and my dad did. . . . It all started really with Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale redefining the relationship. . . .”

Bush said he doesn’t want to pick somebody and “use him just for an election vehicle.”