Nation: A NIBBLING PROCESS

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BY Richard Nixon's stop watch, it was time to end the qualifying heat and prepare for the marathon ahead. As odds-on favorite for the Republican presidental nomination, he had to give serious consideration to the choice of a running mate. He also set out to polish position papers for the G.O.P. Platform Committee, and write an acceptance speech. For his retreat, he borrowed a white bungalow at California's Newport Beach that resounded all week to pounding waves from the West.

From the East came sounds of persistent pounding at Nixon's delegate support. Some of his staffers admitted that their man had lost about 50 delegate votes in the past few weeks. They still believe, however, that he will get at least 700 on the first ballot, 33 more than needed for nomination. North Carolina, once counted as solid for Nixon, went soft, may go for a favorite son. In the Midwest, there were signs of a slight shift toward Nelson Rockefeller. In the South, Ronald Reagan was having a visible effect.

Nonendorsements. Four weeks ago, TIME correspondents surveyed the commitments and inclinations of the 1,333 G.O.P. delegates. The indication then was that Nixon could expect 688 first-ballot votes, or 21 more than necessary for the nomination (TIME, July 5). A recheck last week showed a slight erosion of that strength and enough uncertainty in some states to put a first-ballot nomination in question.

Illinois Senator Charles Percy came out for Rockefeller, and while his state's delegation is still regarded as predominantly pro-Nixon, the Percy-Rockefeller rapprochement* had psychological repercussions. There were three gubernatorial nonendorsements. James Rhodes of Ohio, Spiro Agnew of Maryland and George Romney of Michigan hung loose. The three states have 132 votes among them with enough Nixon sentiment to settle matters. As long as they remain even nominally neutral, however, Rockefeller and Reagan operatives can keep pleading elsewhere.

Agnew said he did not expect to be nominated as a favorite son, indicating that his delegation would break before the convention opens on Monday. The Rockefeller camp believes Rhodes will hold out for a couple of ballots. Romney, once Rockefeller's ally, said none of the three prospects appealed to him. As for his convention role, the Michigander said that he expected "to be in the midst of the conflict with words that are true and action that is right, even if not understood at the time."