Keating Visits South Carolina While Mulling Presidential Run

Wednesday, December 20th 2006, 10:14 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) As he mulls a possible run for the presidency in 2008, former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating plans to visit with Republican party officials in South Carolina, which holds the first primary election in the South.

A South Carolina GOP official said the meeting would be private but that party activists who want to listen to Keating, 62, would likely attend, The Oklahoman reported from its Washington bureau.

The meeting was to be held sometime Wednesday.

``As with anyone considering a serious bid for the presidency, South Carolina is a place any candidate will want to come,'' South Carolina Republican Party spokesman Rob Godfrey said.

``Governor Keating is nationally well-known. He was a great leader in Oklahoma. South Carolina Republicans welcome him to the debate on the issues facing the nation.''

South Carolina's primary traditionally follows caucuses in Iowa and the nation's first primary in New Hampshire and has been a target of conservative GOP candidates in the past.

Keating's spokesman, Dan Mahoney, said Keating has not made a decision about entering the presidential race, which on the Republican side could include U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

``He feels like there would potentially be a place for his experience and his philosophies'' in the race, Mahoney said, adding that Keating knows a decision is necessary soon so that fundraising could begin.

Keating serviced two terms as Oklahoma's governor. Since his term ended in 2003, he has been president and chief executive officer of the Washington-based American Council of Life Insurers.

Keating campaigned extensively for President Bush in 2000 and was on the short list to be Bush's running mate before Bush chose Dick Cheney.

U.S. Rep Tom Cole, R-Moore, said Keating likely would need a minimum of $20 million entering next year to run a viable campaign. He said Keating would enter the race as a ``dark horse'' but not as a ``fantasy candidate'' who would have no chance of winning.

``I think he's an enormously attractive candidate,'' Cole said. ``I happen to think there's an opening in the field for someone with his particular belief structure.

``The big question he'll have to answer is how to do it, not whether he's competent to do it. I wouldn't bet against Frank Keating on a stage with anyone.''