THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 7, 1994 TAG: 9407070456
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Guy Friddell
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
While the Virginia General Assembly is in session, it can do the people of the commonwealth a favor of historic magnitude.
Upon concluding this week the business for which it was summoned Tuesday to an extra session in Richmond, it could enact legislation providing for a runoff election between the two top candidates in the race for the the U.S. Senate if none polls a majority Nov. 8.
At present in the four-man race, each candidate has a band of devout supporters. That raises the possibility that one could be elected to the Senate with less than 30 percent of the vote cast, perhaps with as little as 26 percent.
The idea for a runoff originated two weeks ago in an article by James Latimer, doyen of Virginia journalists. Latimer, former chief political writer for The Richmond-Times Dispatch, concluded by asking:
``Could anybody concerned, including candidates and legislators, object to such an affirmation of democracy's basic principle, majority rule.''
Virginia has a provision for a runoff in a Democratic primary. One occurred in 1969 with Henry Howell of Norfolk, Bill Battle of Charlottesville and Fred Pollard of Richmond.
Battle won the runoff against Howell, then lost in the general election to Republican Linwood Holton when erstwhile supporters of Pollard and Howell jumped the fence.
Introduction of legislation for a runoff into this General Assembly's special session would require unanimous consent of the legislators, or it could be sent down by Gov. George F. Allen.
``If the leadership of the General Assembly agreed, I believe they could find a way to bring it about,'' Latimer said Wednesday.
Indeed, the General Assembly makes its own rules as it pleases. But although it is legally possible to offer the runoff, chances of its introduction would be an exceedingly long shot.
The major opposition likely would come from supporters of the nominees of the two parties.
U.S. Sen. Charles Robb led in polls during his campaign for the nomination in the June 14 Democratic primary. And he led in a recent one by The Washington Post.
Oliver North won the nomination in the GOP's June 3 convention. His chances increased when former Democratic Gov. Douglas Wilder decided to get in the race. Wilder's entry threatens to divide the Democratic vote.
But Republican Marshall Coleman, former attorney general, joined the fray. Now the outcome of a four-way free-for-all seems beyond prediction.
It bids to become as messy as four famished foes, armed with knives, trying to cut a pizza pie.
The General Assembly will return to a special session in September to act upon Gov. Allen's crime-prevention bills.
By that time, the pizza may have become puree, inclining even the most fervent opponents to take a second look at providing for a runoff. It already looks indigestible to the vast majority of voters. by CNB