Kemp Out of Race, Would Consider No. 2

WASHINGTON —  Jack Kemp ended his Republican presidential campaign today, saying George Bush has won “the Reagan wing of the Republican Party” and hinting that he would welcome the No. 2 spot on the ticket.

Kemp, whose campaign as the true conservative heir to Ronald Reagan never caught on with voters, endorsed no candidate. He said of his rivals, “They’re all Reagan conservatives.”

The New York congressman bowed out at a Capitol Hill news conference, flanked by his family and some of the House members who backed his candidacy. He evoked cheers from moist-eyed supporters with a vow that “No way” would this be his last campaign for the White House.

Senate Not Ruled Out

Kemp, 51, said he would not seek reelection to the House seat from Buffalo that he has held for 18 years. He did not rule out running for the Senate from New York but said he had no plans to do so.

He called the notion that he might be asked to be the Republican vice presidential candidate a “very flattering and awesome thought.”

He said he didn’t expect it but added: “Would I think about it? The answer to that is yes.”

Campaign spokesman John Buckley said Kemp spent $15 million on his effort, and departs with debts of less than $100,000.

“We balanced our budget,” Kemp said. He was declared ineligible today for federal campaign funding by the Federal Election Commission, which also ruled out Democrats Gary Hart and Paul Simon.

Years of Preparation

Kemp entered the presidential race in April, 1987, after years of preparation to position himself as the candidate of the Republican right wing.

But his campaign never caught on with Republican voters, and he consistently finished behind Bush, Sen. Bob Dole and former television evangelist Pat Robertson in the GOP primaries.

Less than three weeks ago in a debate with his rivals, Kemp declared that the nomination of Bush or Dole would signal the death of the “Reagan revolution” of conservatism. But in withdrawing, Kemp--an architect of Reagan’s tax-cut policies--said that Bush had won Reagan’s Republican constituency.

“We were competing for the Reagan wing of the Republican Party, and he won,” Kemp said.

Kemp’s best showing in the primaries was 13% of the vote in New Hampshire. On Tuesday in 17 GOP contests, the best he scored was a dismal 7% in Massachusetts.