Gore trims list of potential running mates

Vice President Al Gore has narrowed his search for a running mate to five members of Congress and a female governor, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

A Democratic source familiar with the Vice President's thinking said late Wednesday night that the closely guarded list consists only of House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo.; Sens. Evan Bayh of Indiana, John Edwards of North Carolina, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut; and Gov. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. Shaheen, who faces a tough re-election race, told reporters today that she is not interested in the vice presidential slot.

Meanwhile, NBC News reported that Gore is focusing particularly on Edwards, Kerry and Lieberman. Gore, whose deliberations had remained confidential and the source of widespread speculation until now, views all but Gephardt as new generation politicians who will contrast favorably with the GOP ticket of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney-the son of former President Bush and the elder Bush's Defense secretary respectively-according to the AP source with access to internal analyses of the candidates.

The source did not handicap the prospects of any candidate, although Gephardt has publicly and privately told Gore he does not want the job.

This short list effectively eliminates a number of prominent Democrats, including former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine; Sens. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, Richard Durbin of Illinois, and Bob Graham of Florida; Gov. Gray Davis of California and Energy Secretary Bill Richardson.

However, Florida Democrats believe Graham remains among the possible running mates, the Miami Herald reported. "The only thing I can pick up is that Bob Graham is still in the finals-no two ways about it, he is still there," said state Attorney General Bob Butterworth, who is chairman of Gore's Florida campaign. Butterworth and Florida Democratic Party Chairman Bob Poe met with Gore campaign manager William Daley Wednesday.

Gore plans to announce his selection Tuesday.

In Gephardt's case, his home state of Missouri is a key battleground and his ties to labor would help Gore improve his standing with liberals. Gephardt wants to help Democrats regain control of the House and claim the speakership, regardless of whether Gore wins.

The Vice President's refusal to strike Gephardt from the list underscores the latter's potential value to the ticket. But choosing Gephardt would complicate Democratic efforts to reclaim the House this fall, while selection of Kerry or Lieberman would jeopardize Democratic hopes of winning control of the Senate-because a Republican governor would name their replacement. In addition, Lieberman is up for re-election in November.