41.   At the annual gathering of Republican governors last weekend, education was the top policy issue.

42.   At the time, the Republican governor was angling for a spot on a presidential ticket.

43.   At the same time, Bush is eyeing several other Republican governors for top posts.

44.   Balboni, the Long Island Republican who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said he still hopes to reach a compromise with the Republican governor.

45.   Before that he was a special assistant for education to a Republican governor, Thomas H. Kean, in New Jersey.

46.   Besides the five-star Powell, there is a galaxy of Republican governors to consider.

47.   Beyond that, he could benefit from the popularity of the Republican governor, George Pataki.

48.   Bill Janklow, the populist Republican governor, swept to a record forth term, despite lingering concerns about his health.

49.   Birtwell said the Republican governors will try to convince voters that Bush, as a governor, is more in tune with local needs and concerns than Gore.

50.   Both of those proposals have support among the Republican governors.