Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating Considers GOP Prez Bid 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
December 20, 2006
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating is considering a bid for the Republican nomination for president in 2008. Keating would likely be one of the several candidates who are considered long-shots to win the nod compared to front-runners such as Arizona Sen. John McCain or former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Keating, who is pro-life on the issue of abortion, is in South Carolina today to meet with Republican Party officials there.
That’s a state that is one of the first primary contests and the place where President Bush eventually solidified the nomination in 2000 ahead of McCain.
"As with anyone considering a serious bid for the presidency, South Carolina is a place any candidate will want to come," South Carolina Republican Party spokesman Rob Godfrey told the Associated Press.
Keating’s spokesman, Dan Mahoney, told AP that the former governor hasn’t made a decision about entering the race.
"He feels like there would potentially be a place for his experience and his philosophies," Mahoney said.
He said the former governor knows a decision is needed soon because of the great need to raise tens of millions of dollars early to be competitive.
Keating, who is Catholic, was the governor of Oklahoma for two terms and signed a bill in June 2001 to prevent teenagers from having an abortion unless they first received the consent of their parents.
The measure also would hold abortion practitioners liable for "physical and emotional injuries" suffered by a minor if they do not notify or receive consent from a parent prior to performing an abortion on a girl under 18 years of age.
Keating also signed a bill in May 2002 authorizing the state’s "Choose Life" license plates.
Other possible Republican candidates for president include Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who recently became pro-life, pro-life Sens. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, pro-life Rep. Duncan Hunter of California and former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who oppose abortion but supports embryonic stem cell research.
