Nation: An Ex-President Is Available

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If Ford did go for the nomination, he would start as a very long shot. Political professionals believe he would have to start almost immediately to mount a serious primary campaign. If he stays out beyond the end of February, he will miss the filing deadlines for primaries in which voters will choose almost 40% of the delegates to the G.O.P. Convention. But Ford shows no sign of making a move. Instead, last week he formally withdrew his name from the Connecticut primary. Ford could still run in the last few primaries, assuming he could raise money and create an organization. Many of his former campaign aides long ago joined the active candidates. Ford's 1976 manager, James Baker, is running the Bush campaign.

There is yet another possibility, which Ford discusses freely. Says he: "If there was a deadlocked convention, and if some support developed for me, of course I would respond." But if the convention does go beyond the first ballot—as no G.O.P. gathering has since 1948—party pros believe that supporters of the leading candidates would try to settle the nomination among themselves rather than turn to Ford. This year there are no deep ideological divisions or personal animosities that would prevent such deals. Anyone who speaks of a deadlocked convention turning to a dark horse, says a Republican National Committee official, "is talking about Warren G. Harding days."