Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 28, 1993 TAG: 9304280134
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
North, central figure in the Iran-Contra controversy, took the unusual step of writing a five-page letter seeking contributions for a committee that is trying to "draft" him for the 1994 Republican Senate nomination.
In the strongest indication to date of his plans, North said he will need to raise "perhaps as much as $15 million" to defeat U.S. Sen. Charles Robb, D-Va. The spending record for a Virginia campaign is $11 million by Marshall Coleman, the unsuccessful GOP nominee for governor in 1989.
"Since the media is out to destroy me with a vengeance, I would need to raise millions of dollars to buy TV time outright - in order to go over their heads directly to voters," North wrote. His letter went to supporters nationwide who have contributed previously to his legal defense funds and political causes.
"I am willing to step in the ring one more time if you and others like you are willing to support me," North told them.
With his international fame, speaking style and proven ability as a fund-raiser for conservative causes, North is increasingly regarded as a shoo-in for the GOP nomination should he seek it. His prospects improved further Tuesday when one possible opponent - former U.S. Attorney Richard Cullen of Richmond - announced he will not run.
Cullen said he will remain in Richmond to be co-chairmen of a local public-private partnership against violent crime.
At least two other Republicans still are considering running: James Miller, a former Reagan White House budget director; and Jay Stephens, a former U.S. attorney in Washington.
Prior to this month, North said, his decision about running was entirely up to his wife and four children. But in the letter, North left the matter to his supporters, enclosing an "urgent reply" ballot on his candidacy with a check box for contributions.
"If you tell me you will support my candidacy, and my other friends give me a thumbs up, I will become a candidate for the United States Senate," he wrote.
North seems assured of a favorable response. During the last five years, his supporters have contributed $20 million to two national political action committees North heads and a legal-defense fund that helped him successfully combat criminal charges stemming from the Iran-Contra scandal.
"It's a foregone conclusion that he'll run," said Richard Viguerie, a Republican fund-raiser and North supporter. "I don't see how anyone can take the nomination away from him."
North has spent much of the last two years raising money for state GOP candidates and ingratiating himself with party leaders, particularly conservatives.
The Draft North Committee is being headed by Donald Huffman, former state Republican chairman, and being run out of an office building in Sterling where North's private security business is headquartered. North recently hired Joseph Elton, former executive director of the state GOP, as a consultant.
Elton said he does not know how many letters North has sent out, but acknowledged that the former Marine lieutenant colonel has a national mailing list of at least 500,000 names.
Elton said no goal has been set for the amount of contributions this spring that would ensure North's entry into the race. In deference to Republicans running in this year's statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, Elton said North will limit his Virginia fund-raising activities this year and may focus on out-of-state sources.
North blasted President Clinton and his "liberal cronies in Congress for pushing to give homosexual activists free access to our military and those who want to make laws allowing foreigners who have AIDS to become U.S. citizens."
Robb is Clinton's "point man in the Senate for the radical homosexual lobby," North charged. He also warned that Robb is an accomplished fund-raiser, especially with the "Hollywood money crowd."
North made no mention of Gov. Douglas Wilder, who is considering challenging Robb for the Democratic nomination.
North pledged to defend free enterprise, "traditional values" and a strong national defense. He promised to safeguard children "from drugs and crime in a society barraged by violence from Hollywood and blasted into our homes on television."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB