By Alan K. Ota, CQ Staff

The two top lieutenants for House Minority Leader John A. Boehner , R‑Ohio, are moving to become more prominent voices for their party, fueling speculation that they have their eyes on White House bids.

Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia made the short list of candidates for vice president last year and has already moved onto the list of potential candidates for president for 2012, having launched a series of listening tours and policy forums.

House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence of Indiana recently added his name to that list by scheduling a trip to Iowa starting July 25 — just before the final week of the hectic July session.

Cantor and Pence both insist they are focused on their party’s agenda in the House.

“So far this year, I’ve been to Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Colorado, California,” Pence said. “The only thing I’m running for right now is re-election to the 6th Congressional District of Indiana. The only other work I’m doing is trying to get as many Republicans elected to Congress as possible.”

The rising profile for both men has helped them to build thriving leadership political action committees. Cantor has raised $637,000 for his PAC, Every Republican Is Crucial, while Pence has raised $71,000 for his, called Principles Exalt a Nation.

John Feehery, a GOP consultant, said Cantor and Pence might have more than the presidency on their mind — such as possible future bids for other leadership jobs, or in the case of Pence, a possible run for the Senate in 2012, should fellow Republican Richard G. Lugar retire.

Although 19 U.S. presidents have served in the House, Feehery and other observers say they doubt that either Cantor or Pence is a likely bet to duplicate the 1880 feat of James A. Garfield, the last person to move directly from the House to the White House.

But more than a dozen House members have tried since 1970, including the historic campaign of Shirley Chisholm, D-N.Y. (1969-83), in 1972; the folksy primary campaign of Morris K. Udall, D‑Ariz. (1961-91), against Jimmy Carter in 1976; and the independent presidential bid of John B. Anderson, R-Ill. (1961-81), in 1980.

Such campaigns can carry consolation prizes. Jack F. Kemp, R-N.Y. (1971-89), never gained traction in 1988, but he became President George Bush’s housing secretary in 1989 and the party’s vice presidential nominee in 1996. In between presidential bids in 1988 and 2004, Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri (1977-2005) rose to become the House Democrats’ leader.

“Going to New Hampshire and Iowa can help their careers,” Feehery said. “It helps with notoriety and with fundraising. People say, ‘This guy might be president someday.’”