DAYTON DAILY NEWS                   Copyright (c) 1996, Dayton Newspapers Inc.DATE: Friday, August 2, 1996                 TAG: 9608091363EDITION: CITY           SECTION: NEWS        PAGE: 1A SOURCE: By Tim Miller COLUMBUS BUREAU                  POLITICS: VOINOVICH DROPS OUTS OF VEEP RACE COLUMBUS--In a stunning announcement Thursday, Gov. George Voinovich removed himself from consideration as Bob Dole's vice presidential runningmate while firmly setting his sights on another political goal -- the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat John Glenn.   The abrupt end to months of speculation about Voinovich's chances of joining the GOP ticket against President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore came in classic Voinovich fashion -- a low-key, matter-of-fact statement made in the course of a day's business.   But that didn't flatten the shock waves in the Capitol.   The Democrats crowed that the decision was just another indication that theGOP sees Dole's ship sinking fast, while the Republicans echoed Voinovich in saying he wants a strong finish in his last two years as governor before taking the only remaining major statewide office the GOP doesn't hold.   The Democrats also hinted that the whiff of scandal surrounding the departure of Voinovich's departed chief of staff, Paul Mifsud, may have helpedpush him out the race, a claim that Voinovich's press secretary Mike Dawson labelled "absurd."   Voinovich's announcement comes just days before Dole, the former Senate majority leader who will officially claim his party's presidential nomination at the national convention Aug. 15, announces his vice presidential selection.   As Curt Steiner, Voinovich's recently named new chief of staff and long-time campaign adviser, said Thursday, "Now we'll never know" if the former Cleveland mayor would have been picked. "It will be another of life's mysteries," said Steiner.   With Dole running between 17 and 24 points behind Clinton in the national polls, the selection of a runningmate is considered a crucial move in helping Dole close the gap.   Voinovich had been on the short list of those being considered for several reasons -- the necessity of carrying Ohio in November (no Republican has ever been elected without doing so); his overall moderate political positions but strong anti-abortion stance; and the lack of "skeletons in the closet" that might cause adverse publicity for the GOP ticket.   That last advantage had recently been called in to question as reports circulated of possible investigations into Mifsud's dealing with state contractors and a possible link to campaign contributions to the governor, butthose closest to Voinovich adamantly denied that that was even part of the discussion.   "Only recently did it become clear that he possibly could be selected and he proverbially sat down with a cup of coffee and discussed it with his familyand a few close friends," said Steiner. "He asked himself 'what do I want to do for the state and personally.' The answer was finish the job as governor and cap off his career by winning a Senate seat."   Voinovich, who announced his decision at the end of an unrelated press conference, said, "I feel I owe it to the people of Ohio to complete my job. Ialso feel I could make a good U.S. Senator."   Voinovich had planned to meet with Dole campaign officials Wednesday night,but that fell through and he informed Dole's staff early Thursday morning.   Voinovich, who was the first governor to endorse Dole early in the primary campaign, said he would work "tirelessly" to elect him in November.   Although Voinovich had been mentioned as a possible runningmate early in the current campaign, he often seemed more bemused than beguiled by all the speculation. He continued to take positions contrary to Dole's -- on such issues as affirmative action, taxes, cutting the federal deficit -- and he repeatedly declined interviews with the national media that other candidates eagerly sought.   In a recent interview, he said the attention was "flattering, but it doesn't turn my crank, if you know what I mean."   Several months ago Voinovich all but officially announced for the Senate in1998, even though incumbent Glenn has not yet publicly said if he will seek a fifth, six-year term.   Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Leland said it's "presumptious" of Voinovich to think that "there's a Senate seat for the taking," and called Thursday's announcement "just another indication that the Republicans see Bob Dole going nowhere."   Former state Democratic Chairman Jim Ruvolo, now a government consultant inToledo, said he believes "Voinovich realized that if he wants to win a Senate seat it won't be easy and ultimately losing effort with Dole."   But Steiner said the bottom line may be that he quite simply didn't want itif it was there.   "As well as I know him and as frequently as I talk with him I never once heard him say he wanted to be vice president," he said.LENGTH: Medium:   95 LINESILLUSTRATION: PHOTOS:          George Voinovich           Gov. George Voinovich said Thursday that he has asked likely GOP           presidential nominee Bob Dole to take his name out of consideration           as a running mate.           JACK KUSTRON/ASSOCIATED PRESS SUBJ: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES NA: BOB DOLE     GEORGE VOINOVICH AT: VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE ENHANCER: REF5