But their activities signal impatience with Whitman's strategy by some top Republicans who are eager to latch onto a presidential candidate while it will still do some good.
Peter Verniero, the governor's chief of staff, said Friday that Whitman was merely trying to "create an even playing field" in New Jersey for all the presidential candidates and to present a united front at the national convention.
Nevertheless, several Republican members of the state's congressional delegation are considering breaking ranks with the governor over the policy. A state senator has agreed to head Texas Sen. Phil Gramm's presidential campaign in New Jersey. And the top elected Republican in Bergen County is playing a prominent role in California Gov. Pete Wilson's attempt to organize here.
U.S. Rep. Marge S. Roukema of Bergen County, who cochaired Dole's campaign in New Jersey in 1988, suggested Friday that she was growing restless with Whitman's request that she remain on the sidelines this year.
"I'm going to respect the governor's feelings, at least for the time being. But in the near future, we'll have to make our own decisions on this," Roukema said. "I think we're getting close to that time."
Roukema said she planned to meet with Whitman within the next week in an attempt to bring the matter to a head.
Whitman recently met with Roukema and the state's seven other Republican members of Congress to ask that they remain neutral at least until the end of the year. Sources said that although they agreed, they were not happy with that strategy.
Last week, Verniero delivered the same neutrality message in private meetings with Republican members of the state Senate and Assembly. The governor also has directed the party's 21 county chairmen, as well as local and county officials, to stay out of the presidential campaign.
