The GOP presidential nomination all but his, Bob Dole says the "slate is wide open" for the No. 2 spot on the ticket - a position he held 20 years ago - and predicts retired Gen. Colin Powell would take it if asked.
As he swept seven "Super Tuesday" primaries to move close to clinching the nomination, Dole said he had only "in a loose way" thought about a vice presidential running mate."It's in the back of my mind sometimes as I fly around, watching governors and others perform," Dole said in an interview. "But I haven't really thought about it in any concerted way."
Dole insisted he had no favorite. "The slate is wide open,"' he said.
Dole had said previously that Powell would make his list, and, in a CBS interview, he left little doubt that he has thought about the prospect of a Dole-Powell ticket, notwithstanding Powell's insistence that he is not interested.
Dole said Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has "been a soldier all his life and he's responded whenever his country needed him, and I believe if anyone went to General Powell - I may be totally wrong - and laid out a case . . . that he would suit up again."
Poll after poll has shown that Dole could improve his standing against President Clinton by picking Powell. But if he does, it could cause an uproar at the Republican National Convention because of Powell's support of abortion rights.
Powell said recently that under no circumstances would he vote for Pat Buchanan for president.