Getting To Know John Engler

By Marc Watts/CNN

DETROIT (May 13) -- A normal day for Michigan Gov. John Engler kicks off with a breakfast speech outside Detroit. Three hours later he christens a new state police station, then stumps for a legislative candidate.

He travels often to Washington or overseas trying to lure business. But Engler isn't up for re-election until 1998, so many people wonder if he's campaigning to be Sen. Robert Dole's running mate this fall.

But Engler demurs. "I've not talked to Bob Dole. My staff hasn't talked to his staff, so to my knowledge there's no list and my name is not to be found on any list (96K WAV sound)."

Modesty has carried Engler a long way, especially from the days pundits were writing his political obituary. When Engler became governor in 1990, he inherited a state with a billion-dollar deficit, paralyzed in blue-collar recession. At one time, his approval ratings had sunk to 18 percent.

But 21 tax cuts later, a welfare reform package and massive downsizing of Michigan government has transformed the billion-dollar deficit into a $300 million surplus. Now Engler flirts with 70 percent approval ratings.

And his political resurrection has lifted him to the top of Dole's running mate list. In fact, some Michigan Republicans, who've been spotted wearing Dole-Engler buttons, have already drafted him.

"He'd make a great vice president," says Monroe County Republican official John Hohman. "Just look at what he's done for Michigan." Says State Sen. Dick Posthumus: "He's a governor who has proved that the policies of Republicans and conservatives work."

Engler, 47, is divorced and remarried with 18-month-old triplet daughters. He's Catholic, pro-life and has held public office his entire adult life. Elected a state representative in 1970 at 21 when still in college, he moved on to the state Senate in 1978. There, he served as majority leader for seven years until elected governor. In 1994, Engler was re-elected. Tough and savvy, Engler has even lectured to House members in Washington on perseverance. And his welfare reform has become a national model for the GOP.

A conservative governor from a key midwestern industrial state, he also is geographically attractive to party strategists who believe Engler could put Michigan in the GOP column in November.

Engler's style, however, has sometimes angered voters. His welfare reform package yanked 83,000 people off general assistance and Democrats branded him as "mean-spirited." And some say Engler is just not vice-presidential.

Says State Rep. Maxine Berman, "In areas where Bob Dole has problems, you know, personality, what does John Engler add? Nothing. On the gender gap, what does John Engler add? Nothing (96K WAV sound)."

The issue that could hurt Engler most involves Vietnam. He failed his Army physical twice during the war because he was two pounds overweight. Critics say Engler put on the weight to avoid the draft. Engler denies that, saying he had a legitimate weight problem. Nevertheless, it's still a stark contrast to Dole, who's considered a World War II hero, with a purple heart.

"You don't want to have somebody with a questionable Selective Service record of his own as your running mate," comments "Inside Michigan Politics" publisher Bill Ballenger.

Engler remains affable. "Come November, I'm goning be out there working for Bob Dole as the governor of Michigan," he said. "I don't expect to be doing it as part of Bob Dole's ticket."

He avoids sounding confident in the event Dole selects someone else. But it's no secret Engler is at the top of Dole's list.

Getting To Know John Engler

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