WASHINGTON – Secretary of State Colin Powell is always the first name up in the guessing game over who’d replace Vice President Dick Cheney if he had to step down – and the idea sparks terror among Democrats.
They fear the super-popular Powell, as the first black veep, would make President Bush a lock for 2004 re-election and end Democratic dominance among black voters.
But not so fast. Conservative Republicans don’t like the fact that Powell is pro-choice, he’s insisted he doesn’t want to run for office and besides, he might prefer his current freewheeling job to playing backup.
Under the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the president picks a replacement veep subject to confirmation by a majority of both houses of Congress. In the past, presidents have gotten their picks regardless of who controls Congress.
“For Bush, it’s really important that he feel close and comfortable personally, which is why I think it could be [Pennsylvania Gov.] Tom Ridge,” says a GOP strategist who, like others, declined to be named for fear of sounding ghoulish.
Ridge is close to the Bushes and he was on the 2000 veep list – but also is pro-choice.
Close personal ties and an attractive campaign style also put ex-Montana Gov. Marc Racicot on the list. He was a key Bush spokesman during the Florida fiasco.
Few GOP senators seem likely prospects, although some cite Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), a heart surgeon and Bush’s Senate liaison.