Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 14, 1993 TAG: 9301140195
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATE OUT
Short of money, time and manpower, Del. Howard Copeland, D-Norfolk, backed away Wednesday from plans to seek his party's nomination for attorney general."I have to recognize that other candidates got out front a long time ago, when I was engaged in doing my duties in the House of Delegates," Copeland said. He also was held back by his obligations as a private lawyer and a Coast Guard reserve officer, he said.
His withdrawal leaves Northern Virginia lawyer Bill Dolan and Bedford County prosecutor Jim Updike to combat for the attorney general's nomination at the Democratic convention in May.
Updike said he didn't know what impact Copeland's departure would have on his own candidacy. However, there was immediate speculation that Copeland's absence could give Updike a new opportunity to challenge the front-runner Dolan, particularly if he can rally support from labor union members.
That's a constituency both Copeland and Updike, whose father was a labor union leader, have been targeting. "Howard has a lot of support in the labor community," Updike said.
Copeland never was a formal candidate, but had begun fund raising, hired a campaign consultant and made no secret of plans to make a dark-horse run. His moves came despite the fact that his local colleagues in the General Assembly, including House Speaker Thomas Moss of Norfolk, had come out for Dolan.
The Democrats are angling for the opening to be left when Mary Sue Terry runs for governor. Two Republicans have announced the same intention: Del. Steve Agee of Salem and Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Gilmore.
Copeland said those candidates all got too big a head start, and his campaign consultant advised Monday night that it was too late to catch up.
Copeland also blamed the weak economy for sluggish fund raising; he had hoped to raise $100,000 by now but only has between $20,000 and $30,000, he said.
"Fund raising has been more difficult the last two years than any time in my experience," said Copeland, a 12-year assembly veteran.
Through the end of November, Updike had raised only about $25,000 himself. But he expressed optimism Tuesday that he'll be able to raise the hundreds of thousands necessary to mount a credible statewide campaign.
Staff writer Dwayne Yancey contributed to this story.
Keywords:
POLITICS