Former U.N. ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick is being sounded out as a potential running mate for Ross Perot, Republican sources say.
A Perot representative called such speculation premature.Kirkpatrick has been believed to be on Perot's "short list" for some time. GOP sources not directly connected with the Perot effort said that interest in her on the part of Perot's lieutenants has sharpened recently.
"They're having hot and heavy conversations with Kirkpatrick," one source said.
In Dallas, Perot spokesman James Squires said "a lot of people are being promoted for vice president." But he said serious discussions were not yet taking place with anybody.
Kirkpatrick was quoted by the New York Daily News Monday as saying she might support Perot.
While declining to comment on whether she had been approached by Perot or his top aides, she told the newspaper, "I agree with whoever thinks that Perot and I can be a great team."
Besides Kirkpatrick, other rumored potential running mates include Peter Ueberroth, now in charge of a task force dealing with the riot aftermath in Los Angeles; 1988 Democratic presidential contender Jesse Jackson; and Connecticut Gov. Lowell Weicker.