Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 8

IS.M'M-i.T.T,.-J. ALLElTOEEF CO. 8A DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE, ROCHESTER. N.V., TUESDAY', JULY 16, Me closer to picErfng running mate "SPECIAL OF THE WEEK" RECEIVE A FREE KEYLESS TOUCH PAD WITH A PURCHASE OF A STANLEY GARAGE DOOR OPENER INSTALLED. $65 VALUE ALSO OFF ALL GARAGE DOORS IN STOCK 55 ALLIANCE DR.

(HENRIETTA) Pennsylvania governor 'is the top horse among GOP vice presidential hopefuls DELICIOUS BREAKFAST SAUSAGE .99 lb. gout nsrt6 MILL READY HOT! .89 lb KttSM, UAH PROPERTY OWNERS The Door HtfcSH, LLAN GROUND 0 $1.49 lb PORK ST" $1.59 lb Others include former South Carolina Gov. Carroll Campbell and Arizona Sen. John McCain. And Dole has at several meetings mentioned James A.

Baker III, the former secretary of state and treasury secretary. Dole will turn 73 next week. Because of his age, Dole said at one recent meeting that it was imperative his vice presidential pick have a clean bill of health pointedly noting that media accounts were certain to point out that House Speaker Newt Gingrich is second in the line of presidential succession. The health concern weighs against the chances of Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar and former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney.

Both men have had major heart trouble. THK A.V VIV1H) PRESS FAJARDO, Puerto Rico Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge said yesterday he had been interviewed by a member of Bob Dole's vice presidential search team and asked to provide "preliminary information" that sources said included health and financial records. As Dole intensifies his search, the 50-year-old Ridge "is the top horse at the moment," according to a senior Dole aide. Dole himself spoke for 20 minutes Sunday with another prospect, Wisconsin Gov.

Tommy Thompson, but aides to both men said the vice presidential nomination did not come up. Ridge, a decorated Vietnam veteran who served 12 years in the House before being elected Pennsylvania governor in 1994, attended onAnc ViHfil DELICIOUS SEASONED ROLLED FLANK FRESH BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREAST $2.79 lb STEAKS $3.99 lb baseball's All -Star game with Dole last week. Ridge was contacted later in the week by Roderick DeArment, a lawyer conducting background investigations for Dole's search team. Ridge predicted Dole would choose someone else. "But there was a request for some preliminary information, which I well see where it goes," he said.

Dole himself has said he would consider New Jersey Gov. Christine Whitman. But one Republican associate of Whitman said yesterday that she said no when Dole's search team asked recently if she would submit health, financial and other records. Dole spoke to Thompson on Sunday to discuss his speech tomorrow to the National Governors Association meeting in Puerto Rico Thompson is chairman of the organization. "I don't think I'm going to be the choice," Thompson said yesterday, noting that his state had only 11 electoral votea Besides, he said, "I'm too opinionated." As Dole intensifies his search, the developments are of more than passing concern at the NGA meeting.

In addition to Thompson, John Engler of Michigan and George Voinovich of Ohio are often men- -tioned as prospects. Guar to today Jar tcunumruK (Off wi.rtu.iwt) MB. H-UT M-Sf 4M-MM Mortgages For Mixed Uee PropertHe Apartment Unem Of Credit Camh-Out Ml SltumUon Hon Income Verified SCO- Robert D. Schaetter Co. 2751 Ridge Road West Rochester.

NY 14626 225-9550 Ned a laugh? Unwind with Dave Barry Tuesdays. iftChratdf TTwrrf Party Originators Registered Mortgage Brokers NVS Baring Department TIMES-UNION Arkansas governor quits under pressure Why do smart kids fail? such as criminal convictions or medical problems. The governor retains the right to say when the disability Weak Basic Skills Frustration with School Lack of Confidence No Motivation Your chilJ may be smarter than his or her grades show. Our certified teachers help children of all ages overcome frustration and failure, and realize their potential. A few hours a week can help your child improve weak study skills and gain the Education Edge.

Our testing pinpoints problems and we tutor in reading, phonics, study skills, math and SAT prep to help students in all grades do better in school. Call us and let us help your child break the Failure Chain. K-12 and Adults Huckabee, a Republican, was to be sworn in at 6:45 p.m., House Speaker Bobby Hogue said. After his May 28 conviction for fraud and conspiracy, Tucker, a Democrat, had said he would step down as governor. But yesterday, he reneged on the promise, saying his conviction for fraud and conspiracy amounted to a temporary disability under the state Constitution and he would return to office if his appeal was successful.

Tucker telephoned Huckabee with the news just five minutes before Huckabee was to be sworn in is over. Tucker earlier said he decided not to resign because he believes he will win an appeal based on the fact that one of the jurors who convicted him was mar- as the state's 51st governor. Huckabee, a Republican who gave up a promising Senate campaign in anticipation of taking over, objected. Late in the afternoon, Huckabee said he would call an emergency session of the Legislature ifTucker's unconditional resignation wasn't handed in by 9 a.m. today.

The state's attorney general also sued to seek his ouster. After Huckabee's threat, Tucker apparently relented. The Arkansas Constitution allows a governor to give up the job temporarily due to "disabilities" THK ASSOCIATED PRESS LITTLE ROCK Gov. Jim Guy Tucker resigned without restrictions yesterday after the man succeeding him as governor threatened to call a special session of the Legislature to impeach him. The announcement followed a day of confusion, after Tucker first said he would give up his job temporarily, then reclaimed the office, then surrendered it again at 6 p.m.

after Lt. Gov. Mike Huckabee threatened to ask the Legislature to impeach him. All programs continuing through summer Pittsford 381-81 10 Irondequoit 266-3020 THE HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER 1991, Huntington Learning Centers, Inc. Independently Owned Operated Tucker ried to a man whose 40-year cocaine sentence Tucker refused to commute in 1992.

Clinton calls What you never TM thnucrht hnssihlp. Whitewater prosecution 'politicized' THF ASSOCIATED PRKSS The New Motorola Cellular Phone. The World's Only Wearable Cellular Phone. It's the latest breakthrough in communications from Motorola. Weighing as little as 3.1 ounces, the StarTAC cellular phone is the world's smallest and lightest with more talk-time options than any other cellular phone on the market today.

It's the accessory that goes with everything only from Motorola. WASHINGTON President Clinton shrugged off polls last night suggesting a majority of Americans think he and his wife are not telling the whole truth on Whitewater, saying the evidence "fails to demonstrate any wrongdoing by ei ther one of us. rws Appearing on MSNBC, the new Clinton cable and Internet To find out where to get yours, call Motorola toll free at 1-888-STARTAC. Visit us on the Internet at www.STARTAC.com USA news service, Clinton suggested the investigation of Whitewater prosecutor Kenneth Starr was "highly politicized. "I think the American people are fair-minded.

They've heard a lot QQQ 36 USC 380 Proud Sponsor of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team more negative than positive, Clinton told interviewer Tom Brokaw. Taking questions from Brokaw, from callers and from e-mail via the Internet, Clinton also praised GOP rival Bob Dole for his integrity. "I believe he really loves our country. He was hurt very badly in World War II.

He could have been embittered. He could have walked away." He complimented the prospective GOP nominee for backing him "when I had to do unpopular things" in the foreign policy arena, even when the former Senate majority leader didn't wholly agree with him. Clinton was the leadoff guest in the first airing of InterNight, a new nightly prime-time news program on the joint venture of NBC and Microsoft Brokaw asked him about recent polls showing that, while his lead over Dole was growing, most Americans have doubts about his character. In particular, Brokaw told Clinton, a recent NBCWall Street Journal poll showed that Americans by a 55 percent to 24 percent margin didn't believe he was telling the truth on Whitewater. For Hillary Rodham Clinton, 62 percent believed she was not telling the truth, against 18 percent, he said.

"It bothers me some, but I don't see how they could draw any conclusion other than that," given negative information presented, Clinton said. "I think character is a legitimate issue and I look forward to having that discussion," he added. Asked what he and the first lady discuss in private about the Whitewater investigation, Clinton said: "I try to remind Hillary not to worry too much about it. I also remind her about the evidence being on her side." Clinton and Brokaw sat in two wood-framed, upholstered chairs in the Roosevelt Room with a large bookcase and a few flags as backdrops. It looked like the standard White House interview setting, except for the laptop computer that sat on a small table between them.

Brokaw said that on-line users had bombarded MSNBC's Internet site with 8,000 questions for the president MOTOROLA -A- What yon never thought possible 1.