National Affairs: WHERE THEY STAND: A TAFT-IKE COUNT

Although the Republican National Convention is seven months away, its 1,200 delegates are already being lined up by state party leaders. At the convention the ranks may break; but now they are forming.

The campaign has already narrowed to a fight between Taft and Eisenhower; withdrawal of either would almost certainly result in victory for the other. Favorite sons and other minor candidates have less than 200 votes among them. None seems to have 25 votes outside his own state.

Taft seems to have 400 votes pretty solidly nailed down. Eisenhower, if he declares his candidacy soon, might count on 300 as a starting bloc. What inroads he might make on the remaining 300 loose votes depends largely on the vigor of his campaign managers who, so far, have let Taft steal a long, long march.

On the basis of reports from its correspondents throughout the U.S., TIME has compiled the following rundown of the present line-up of Republican delegations:

ALABAMA—14. Taft has eight or ten. State Chairman Claude O. Vardaman, who leans toward Eisenhower, may control from two to six votes.

ARIZONA—14. Taftmen claim all 14. Key man is Governor Howard Pyle, publicly committed to neither candidate. He leans to Taft, but weighs carefully the growing Eisenhower sentiment in his state.

ARKANSAS—11. Taft, with National Committeeman Wallace Townsend and Little Rock Mayor Pratt Remmel, has at least six votes.

CALIFORNIA—70. TIME'S San Francisco bureau reports: "Governor Earl Warren will hold on to California's 70 votes as long as he thinks he has any chance to be nominated. If forced to choose between Taft and Eisenhower, Warren probably will support Ike."

COLORADO—18. Taft claims a majority. Ike's friends in Colorado have not yet begun an active campaign for him.

CONNECTICUT—22. Taftmen concede to Eisenhower.

DELAWARE—12. Divided. Senator John Williams is publicly uncommitted, but probably for Taft. National Committeeman Francis V. du Pont is counted as leaning toward Eisenhower.

FLORIDA—18. State Chairman H. G. Alexander and a majority of the 102-member Republican committee are Taft's. Dade County (Miami) Republicans are demanding election of delegates at a primary, which would help Eisenhower. Taft claims the full delegation, will probably get most of it.

GEORGIA—17. National Committeeman Harry Sommers, Atlanta automobile dealer and longtime friend of Tom Dewey, has made the jump to Taft. Coca-Cola President Robert Woodruff is an Ikeman. A strong Eisenhower campaign might win Georgia delegates, TIME'S Atlanta bureau reports.

IDAHO—14. All Taft.

ILLINOIS—60. All Taft.

INDIANA—32. Taft claims the State solidly. Eisenhower might break off a few.

IOWA—26. Iowa National Committeeman Harrison E. Spangler is for Taft. Governor William S. Beardsley is an Ikeman. Taft claims a majority of the delegation.

KENTUCKY—20. Taftmen claim the entire delegation. TIME'S correspondent at Louisville gives Taft 15 on the first ballot.

KANSAS—22. Of Kansas Republicans, only U.S. Senator Andrew F. Schoeppel makes Taft noises. Kansas-reared Eisenhower will probably get all or nearly all of the Kansas delegation.