Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 21, 1993 TAG: 9310210147
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BY MARGARET EDDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Disclosure of the $50,000 contribution, which is substantially more than Robertson has given to either of Gilmore's running mates, comes as Democrats are linking the GOP ticket to the religious right.
The Christian Coalition said Wednesday that Democrats are trying "to make Pat Robertson the Willie Horton of the 1993 campaign," and predicted that the "negative attacks, lies and anti-religious bigotry" will backfire.
"George Wallace ran against blacks. Mary Sue Terry and Don Beyer are running against Christians. Their campaign tactics are identical in their appeal to bald-faced bigotry," said Ralph Reed, the coalition's executive director, referring to the Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor.
Willie Horton, a black man who raped and murdered a woman while on work release from a Massachusetts prison, was a focal point of television advertising by George Bush's 1988 presidential campaign. Bush, who defeated former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in the election, was accused of appealing to racial bigotry in the ad.
Robertson was traveling and unavailable for comment. A Robertson spokesman said he didn't know why the contribution was so much larger than the $10,000 given George Allen, the GOP nominee for governor, or the $2,500 to Mike Farris, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor.
"As a citizen and voter, he has every right to support who he wants to," said Gene Kapp, spokesman for the Christian Broadcasting Network. "I have no idea what their relationship is."
The camp of Bill Dolan, Gilmore's Democratic opponent, was less reticent about speculating.
"This proves Jim Gilmore is bought and paid for by the Rev. Pat Robertson and the gun lobby," said Irene Thomaidis, Dolan's spokeswoman. Gilmore's second-largest contributor is the National Rifle Association, which has given $30,000 to his campaign.
He was as surprised as anyone by the size of Robertson's gift, Gilmore said. Saying that he has not known Robertson long or well, Gilmore suggested that the gift may be a response to Dolan's criticism.
"Ever since Bill Dolan was nominated, he's been bashing Pat Robertson," said Gilmore.
Gilmore had raised $536,641 as of Oct. 15, compared with $1.1 million raised by Dolan.
Dolan's largest contributors are tied to the construction and real estate industries in Northern Virginia. His biggest gifts are a $35,700 contribution of office space from the West Group Development Corp.; $25,000 from York Limited Partnership; and $17,000 from his father, a physician.
Gilmore accused Dolan of a "double standard" of criticizing Gilmore while "raising $40,000 from movie liberals" in Hollywood.
Thomaidis said Dolan's California money came from two fund-raisers held by his sister, who lives in Los Angeles and is a former editor of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. The events raised $30,000 from 100 people, and Thomaidis said there's "no comparison" with a $50,000 gift from one individual.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB