
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 22, 1993                   TAG: 9309220234
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Washington Post
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FINALLY OFFICIAL: NORTH DECLARES FOR SENATE RUN

After months of acting like a candidate but refusing to call himself one, Oliver North has made it official: He has filed papers declaring himself a contender for the U.S. Senate in Virginia next year.

Without making a public announcement, North filed documents with the Federal Election Commission stating that he is a candidate and establishing a campaign committee. The Iran-Contra figure has been stumping the state relentlessly since last year and has endorsed an effort to draft him into the race, but until now had said only that he was considering a run.

An aide said Tuesday that North does not plan to formally announce his intentions until after November's gubernatorial election and that North is "looking into" the Senate race. But chief of staff Mark Merritt acknowledged that North's campaign is so far along that he felt obligated to legally declare himself a candidate.

"In order to comply with any law that might apply, we have filed a statement of organization," Merritt said. "The fund-raising effort of our exploratory committee has gone much better than expected, and we wanted to make sure that money is accounted for."

Merritt declined to say Tuesday how much money has been raised by the Draft Oliver North for the U.S. Senate Committee, but North has signed several letters soliciting money for it. By converting the draft effort to a campaign committee, North obligates the group to fully disclose its finances in January.

The only other Republican to declare as a Senate candidate so far is James Miller, budget director in the Reagan administration. Former federal prosecutor Jay Stephens also is considering entering the race, but unlike the other two, has not raised any money or hired a campaign staff.

Democratic Sen. Charles Robb has begun raising money for his re-election effort and Gov. Douglas Wilder, Robb's bitter rival, has said he will run.

Political analysts said Tuesday that North's filing confirms what has been obvious for several months. They also agreed that North begins as the clear favorite to win the GOP nomination. Earlier this month, in a move spearheaded by North supporters, the Virginia Republican Party decided to choose its Senate candidate in party caucuses rather than a primary election.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB