NEWS CONFERENCE 787

Q. Governor, there is then a possibility that you and the delegation
might choose Mr. Nixon?

A. Oh, I'd say there is a possibility that we might choose Mr. Nixon,
yes.

Q. More of a possibility than there was before March 21st?

A. Well, there wasn't much of a possibility at that time because I
hadn't even considered that I would go to the convention as more
than a delegate.

Q. Governor, you say you are going to hold several conferences with
Nixon and Rockefeller as well as several who are not announced.
Who did you have in mind?

A. Well, I think there are some sleepers around and I think they'd
better make their own announcements. Certainly, Mr. Reagan has
been talked about and there are others, who may not have reached
that same degree of speculation as Mr. Reagan has reached, but they
will probably be emerging as potentials in the coming months.

Q. How about Senator Percy? Have you discussed this with him?
A. No, I haven't.

Q. Will your role be to wake up some of these sleepers as you tried
to do with Rockefeller?

A. Not necessarily. If I decide to accept the Favorite Son posture,
which basically, as everyone very frankly admits is a holding position
in a constantly changing situation, then I don't think I will take an
active part dredging up new candidates. I want to say one thing I
think is very important here. The situation in this country in the
past month has made some very dramatic changes. I sense a change
and a concern in the electorate. I sense that the candidates are re-
sponsive to this change because of the very important statements that
are being issued one on top of another. And I feel compelled to look
very carefully at these statements before I make a decision as to where
I am going to try to throw whatever influence I can have in this elec-
tion.

Q. Governor, do you still maintain that you have no ambitions at
all on the national scene?

A. No, I have no personal ambitions on the national scene.

Q. Governor, on reflection of the one-time Rockefeller situation,
that he was available for a draft, are you available for a draft for the
second place?