Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1990 TAG: 9006060298
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: By From staff, wire reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
His withdrawal means that no Democrat is considering a challenge to Warner. With the deadline for filing for candidacy a week away, it appears certain Warner will face no opposition in his race for a third six-year term.
Fisher, 75, former congressman from Fairfax, the 10th District in Northern Virginia, said the main reason he decided against the race was "the difficulty of raising enough money to mount a winable campaign. It's hard to ask people to contribute when you aren't sure you are running a winable race," Fisher said.
Fisher had not received much encouragement from Democratic Party officials. State Party Chairman Paul Goldman has maintained that no serious Democratic opposition to Warner had come forth, despite Fisher's announcement that he was considering a race.
Goldman, who had met with Fisher two weeks ago to discuss the Senate race, called the former congressman a "very able and productive public servant."
"I look forward to his continued working for the state of Virginia," he said.
Goldman said it would be unfair to say he discouraged Fisher from running.
"If he won the nomination, the party would be behind him all the way. That's what I told him," Goldman said in a telephone interview from New Hampshire, where Gov. Douglas Wilder was to speak tonight.
Wilder said last winter he did not want a Democrat to run for the Senate with little chance of winning. In 1984, the Democrats nominated former Del. Edythe Harrison of Norfolk, who was trounced by Warner.
by CNB