In the anterooms and gin joints around the Radisson Plaza hotel, where Ohio delegates to the Republican National Convention are housed, three of the party's thoroughbreds are quietly laying the groundwork for possible gubernatorial bids in 2010.

Former Sen. Mike DeWine of Cedarville and former U.S. Reps. John R. Kasich of Westerville and Rob Portman of Cincinnati are wooing the roughly 500 Ohioans here for the convention, a contingent that encompasses the most influential members of the Ohio GOP.

Here to support the nominations of Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the three don't want to talk much about their own potential plans to challenge Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland in two years. But everyone knows what's going on.

"Generally, when you see profiles being raised, it indicates they're interested in something," said Ohio GOP Chairman Robert T. Bennett. "I think it's an indication of the strength of the party. We've got a strong farm team."

Kasich and Portman are spending thousands of dollars to host Ohio delegation breakfasts.

Sen. George V. Voinovich, who was Ohio governor from 1991 to 1998, recalled the value of such breakfasts, remembering that he hosted one for the delegation when he was thinking about running for governor in 1984.

"You've got to break the ice with the (Ohio Republican) family," Voinovich said. "People have to get to know who you are."

As chairman of McCain's Ohio campaign and leader of first-time delegates representing about 75 percent of the 173 Ohio delegates and alternates, DeWine already has strong support and is not hosting any events.

A pre-convention Dispatch survey of the delegates showed that 52 percent of those responding viewed DeWine as the most formidable Republican against Strickland, followed by Kasich with 26 percent and Portman with 22 percent.

"He's the most known, so that makes sense," said U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi of Genoa Township, a longtime Kasich supporter.

Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted, referring to DeWine's close friendship with McCain, said, "What a lot of people here are hoping for is that his good friend John McCain becomes president and he is appointed to be U.S. attorney general."

DeWine said that campaigning for McCain is the only political activity on his mind right now.

Kasich, a commentator for Fox News, and Portman, former budget director and U.S. trade representative for President Bush, both have formed political action committees to raise money for state legislative and other candidates this year -- another way to engender political support.

Kasich, especially, has been active this year as a fundraiser and speaker at political events across the Buckeye State.

Portman said his PAC, Ohio's Future, "helps me to keep my options open" for possible runs for governor or U.S. Senate. But he quickly added that he hasn't decided what he is going to do and his focus this year is solely on aiding McCain and other GOP candidates.

Most delegates interviewed said it's too early to align with a candidate for governor, but a number said the party needs new blood and many view Kasich and Portman, both in their early 50s, as the party's next generation of leaders.

"It's like a dog sled," said Jan Gordon Kaufman, an honorary delegate from Lebanon. "You're going to put that young dog out front because he's going to be a leader and puller. You don't do away with the old dogs, but you've got to let the new dogs emerge."

Kay Wick, chairwoman of the Montgomery County GOP's executive committee, said she's "very fond of John Kasich" and admires his "tremendous experience" on budget matters and understanding of Ohio, but she hasn't yet decided who would be the best GOP gubernatorial candidate.

The convention is where she and other party activists and officials can get a sense of what Kasich and the other potential candidates are all about, Wick said.

"Politics is a people-to-people, eye-to-eye business," Wick said. "The more people you talk to, the more likely you are to succeed."

jhallett@dispatch.com

jriskind@dispatch.com