Nation: I'm Kind of Moderate

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Others under serious consideration as Reagan's running mate are Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, New York Congressman Jack Kemp, former U.S. Treasury Secretary William Simon and Donald Rumsfeld, president of G.D. Searle & Co., who was Ford's chief of staff and then Secretary of Defense. Reagan advisers have even discussed hawkish Democratic Senators Sam Nunn and Henry Jackson, but they are more likely to be considered for Defense Secretary. The consensus is that Reagan will choose a middle-of-the-road Republican.

Reagan's immediate problem is to perk up his now slumbering campaign. He is still coasting on his familiar rhetoric; his aides have not supplied him with either fresh ideas or language for the coming battle. Since Campaign Manager John Sears was fired in February, no one has acquired enough clout to give the candidate firm instructions. Sears' replacement, William Casey, is gradually working into his job, but it takes a long time to win Reagan's confidence. This week state and regional coordinators are meeting with Casey in Los Angeles to try to get organized for the fall.

Feeling that he has a solid base of 120 to 140 electoral votes, compared with Carter's 80, Reagan plans to concentrate on four key states where the President is considered vulnerable: Texas, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Reagan is budgeting roughly half the $29.4 million he will receive in federal campaign funds for TV, radio and print advertising. The ads will emphasize Reagan as the pragmatic Governor of California, a doer not an ideologue, an approach urged by Casey. To build an image as a statesman, Reagan plans to travel to Europe after the convention. Reflecting on his political philosophy, the man who was once considered the most ardent conservative in America admitted: "I think I'm kind of moderate." Though, he added, "maybe we can overdo moderation."