REUTERS: Cheney rumors persist

The only Republican of stature to publicly called on Cheney to be dropped was former New York Sen. Alfonse D'Amato who said Bush should use Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain or Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Still, Cheney remains a popular figure to the conservative base, which Bush is counting on to help carry him to victory on Nov. 2.

That has not stopped the whispering, however. The New York Times published a speculative report that Cheney dismissed his personal doctor recently so that he could see a new one who would conveniently tell him in August that his heart problems make him unfit to run.

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