George W. Bush Ponders His No. 2

When reporters for the Washington Post interviewed George W. Bush last week, they found him untalkative about whom he might pick as his vice presidential running mate. THE SCRAPBOOK didn't have this problem at all. On the contrary, Bush yakked at length about a number of Republican bigwigs mentioned as possible veeps, though he insisted he hasn't really begun the selection process.

John McCain? Bush doesn't sound inclined to tap him. His only comment is that McCain has said he doesn't want to be asked to join the ticket. But when the conversation turns to Colin Powell and Dick Cheney and John Kasich, Bush gets more animated. If Powell were available -- and the former chairman of the Pentagon's joint chiefs of staff insists he's not -- he would be a very "strong" candidate, Bush says. THE SCRAPBOOK takes this to mean that Bush is likely to make a serious run at Powell. As for Cheney -- the former defense secretary, House Republican whip, and White House chief of staff -- Bush says he's gotten to know him well in recent years. Cheney now runs the Halliburton Corp., an oil services company in Dallas, and has advised Bush on defense and foreign policy. "This guy is a very good man," Bush says. "I trust his judgment a lot."

What about Kasich, the House Budget Committee chairman who briefly challenged Bush for the GOP presidential nod, then dropped out and endorsed Bush? Bush says there might be an advantage in "reaching down to the younger generation" in choosing a vice president. Kasich is 47, Bush 53. "I like his spirit," Bush says. "I like his attitude. He's an interesting cat. He's a lot of fun." Finally, Bush talked about Sen. Connie Mack of Florida. Like Kasich, Mack is retiring from Congress this year. Bush says he doesn't know Mack well, but heard him speak at a prayer breakfast before Bush's brother Jeb was inaugurated as governor of Florida in 1999. "I was very impressed," Bush says. "It was a powerful public testimony." And how about Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, a long-time Bush favorite? Oops. THE SCRAPBOOK forgot to ask.