Other Republicans confirm that Keating's star seems to be on the rise, as another star seems to be waning - Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge. Governor Ridge could have been the It man. He's personable, a Vietnam veteran, and has a good rapport with Bush. Plus, polls show he could hand Bush a victory in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state. But Ridge supports abortion rights, and if Bush's behavior to date shows anything, it's that he's not a risk-taker.
Abortion matters The Texas governor wants a controversy-free convention.
Religious conservatives have lost some of their clout in recent years, but they remain among the most motivated activists in the Republican Party. Bush doesn't want to alienate his base. That swirl has died down, as Representative Gephardt has issued signals that he really and truly doesn't want to be Gore's running mate - instead pushing to help the Democrats retake control of the House, and win for himself the Speaker's gavel. It's possible, analysts say, that the attention Gephardt got was mainly an attempt to show the liberal wing of the party that Gore still loves them - especially as Green Party nominee Ralph Nader threatens to siphon votes away from the vice president. If Gore is hoping to swing a state his way with his veep selection, he may go for Florida Sen. Bob Graham or North Carolina Gov. James Hunt.