But the fact that Governor Keating, from Bush's neighboring state of Oklahoma, is high on pundits' lists suggests geography isn't a huge factor. But other considerations might be. Minority representation abounds among the Gore prospects. US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, a Latino, was thought to be a Gore contender, until trouble with security at the Los Alamos weapons lab and high gasoline prices probably nudged him out. Rep. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, a Latino, and Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater, an African-American, are good prospects.
Women are prominent on pundits' lists.
New Jersey Governor Whitman and former presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole are Bush contenders - although each has weaknesses that put them in the second tier. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein may be a Gore prospect, although she's running for reelection, which would complicate national campaigning. In recent years, though, the actual picks have often not even been on pundits' lists. So a surprise could be in the offing. The Christian Science Publishing Society.