Cheney Emerges as Leading V.P. Candidate

July 24 -- With GOP presidential candidate George W. Bush expected to name his running mate in less than 36 hours, former Defense Secretary Richard Cheney remains a leading prospect to fill the post.

Cheney was tapped in April to lead Bush’s vice-presidential selection process, a move that was initially thought to lessen the odds that he would be chosen to join Bush on the Republican ticket. But a number of recent revelations suggest that the former congressman and cabinet secretary may now be atop Bush’s short list, as the Texas governor nears what may be the most important decision of his presidential campaign.

On Friday, Cheney traveled from Texas to Wyoming, where he served as a congressman for 10 years, to personally change his voter registration. That development, which removed a possible constitutional barrier to a Bush-Cheney ticket, stoked already furious speculation that Cheney was being considered.

ABCNEWS also has learned that last Thursday, Cheney warned the board of Halliburton Co., a Texas-based engineering and construction firm, that he would need to step down as chief executive officer if tapped to run for vice president.

The Bush camp has also recently taken steps to evaluate Cheney’s health, a potential area of concern given that he has suffered three heart attacks and, in 1988, underwent quadruple bypass surgery.

Cheney was given a medical exam last week and Dr. Denton A. Cooley, a prominent Houston cardiologist and a Bush family friend, told ABCNEWS that he spoke to Cheney’s physician in Washington, Dr. Jonathon Reiner, and subsequently concluded that Cheney is fit to run and serve.

Denton made the call at the request of the governor and former President Bush — a further indication that Cheney is under serious consideration.

ABCNEWS has also learned that the elder Bush, who was instrumental in tapping Cheney to head the selection process, has been recommending for weeks that Cheney join his son on the GOP ticket.

Vice Presidential Credentials

Cheney, 59, served as a White House chief of staff under President Ford and secretary of defense under President Bush. Governor Bush has said often that the two most important qualifications for the person he’ll ask to run with him are a willingness to work as a loyal No. 2 and the ability to serve as president. A highly respected party elder with vast experience in both the executive and legislative branches, Cheney would fit the bill on both counts. He would also bring some much-needed foreign policy expertise to the ticket.