Vice President Picks

William Buckley’s “Colin Powell for VP: Why It Makes Sense” (Column Right, March 17) indeed makes sense. While it is true that Colin Powell would substantially enhance the probability of the election of Bob Dole, it is not true that “his name conjoined to that of Bob Dole makes up the only slate that would defeat Bill Clinton/Al Gore.” Buckley has overlooked another.

Gov. Christine Todd Whitman of New Jersey would have the same effect. Whitman’s appeal to the female vote is analogous to Powell’s with the black vote. Given that her views on abortion are not unlike Powell’s, Whitman would have the effect of appealing to females in the Democratic Party.

As a young, white. male Republican, I would like to cast a vote for a Dole-Powell ticket; however, a Dole-Whitman ticket is just as appealing. Without Powell or Whitman, it is unlikely that Dole could pull in those of us who are economic conservatives and social moderates.

SHENANDOAH G. LYND

Foothill Ranch

* Why should Powell in ’96 take a pindling chance for vice president when in 2000 he has clear sailing for the presidency?

BEN KRAMER

Chino

* In “Talk of Spot on Ticket Gets Him Mileage,” columnist George Skelton suggests that talk of Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren as a vice presidential candidate is some kind of a joke (March 18).

The joke may be on Skelton. Everything about Lungren’s career suggests he would be a strong candidate and a credible officeholder. He was elected to Congress five times; more importantly, he was an outstanding legislator who played a central role in budget, immigration and crime legislation. He has been one of California’s best attorneys general. Given the enormous vote he ran up in his latest statewide campaign, it’s hard to argue that he wouldn’t strengthen the national GOP ticket in the Golden State.

DAVID LUKEN