Kemp Vp Favorite After Dole Huddle Putting Aside Prickly Relationship, Candidate Seeks To Ignite Convention
Setting aside years of strained relations, Bob Dole is seriously considering Jack Kemp as he looks for a running mate who would ignite the GOP convention and add vigor to the Republican ticket, campaign and party sources said Thursday.
Sen. Connie Mack of Florida and Gov. John Engler of Michigan were said to remain in Dole’s top tier. But Kemp, the former congressman and housing secretary, was described by sources familiar with the search as the favorite, followed by Mack.
Kemp and Dole had a lengthy meeting Wednesday night in Washington, and senior Dole aides met with the former housing secretary again Thursday to pepper him with questions about an array of personal and political issues - and make certain he would say yes if asked, according to two Kemp associates. Kemp also agreed to submit to a detailed background investigation.
Speaking to the associates later Thursday, Kemp voiced some hesitation about subjecting himself to the scrutiny of a national campaign. Separately, two campaign sources said that Kemp had emerged as the top contender as Dole closed in on making his choice.
In Washington, Kemp acknowledged meeting with Dole but was guarded about his prospects. “He asked for my help in the campaign but that’s about all,” he told reporters as he left for a speaking date in Orlando.
Asked if he was interested in running with Dole, Kemp said: “It’s his choice. His choice.”
Dole plans to announce his choice Saturday in his Kansas hometown. He told advisers Wednesday he was focusing on three prospects. Dole aides contacted several other candidates this week to request schedules for the coming days, including Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Don Nickles of Oklahoma and former South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell.
Dole and Kemp have had a prickly relationship, dating back to the early 1980s when Kemp was leading the charge for deep tax cuts and Dole was warning about the soaring federal budget deficit.
They were rivals for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination, and Dole was furious this past March when Kemp backed Steve Forbes for the Republican nomination after talking to Dole aides about an endorsement on the eve of the New York primary. Dole won handily anyway, and joked later about the impact of Kemp’s endorsement.
Asked to describe relations between Dole and Kemp, Forbes said, “How did the Soviets used to say it? Candid. Not always as smooth as they should be.” But he said picking Kemp would “electrify the party. It would excite the country.”
The 61-year-old former congressman opposes abortion and is popular among GOP activists. He represented a blue-collar Buffalo district in the House, after finishing his pro-football career with the Bills. Kemp was born in California and has ties to the GOP’s convention city: he quarterbacked the San Diego Chargers from 1960-62.