Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 24, 1993 TAG: 9311240165
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Clute accused 2nd District Democratic Chairman Ken Geroe of trying to exclude women and blacks from the nomination fight. That would be "the most destructive thing the Democratic Party can do," she added.
Clute took particular exception to comments by Geroe last week suggesting that there is a market in the party for "a young, white male professional without baggage."
"These types of comments wrench up memories of an era of bigotry and hatred toward women and minorities that is unacceptable," Clute said in a news release.
Geroe, a Virginia Beach lawyer, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Clute has been quietly campaigning for months, telling any Democrats who'll listen that their party should reject both Robb and Wilder and nominate her. Robb, buffetted by years of bad publicity over his private life and his staff's handling of an illegally intercepted Wilder phone call in 1988, is vowing to fight for his seat against Wilder, a longtime antagonist whose controversial term as governor ends Jan. 15.
In the three weeks since Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mary Sue Terry was defeated by Republican George Allen, other Democrats have intensified their explorations of the Senate race. Allen's campaign railings against "Robb-Wilder-Terry" generally are acknowledged to have struck a chord with voters and are credited with helping fuel the push for other Democratic candidates.
Clute complained Tuesday that the potential candidates being discussed by party leaders are all white males: former Gov. Gerald Baliles, state party Chairman Mark Warner and Reps. L.F. Payne and Rick Boucher among them.
"If Democratic insiders are planning a strategy that pits white men against women and minorities, we're going to lose," Clute said.
Iran-Contra figure Oliver North is the leading contender for the Republican nomination. His prospective GOP opponents include Jim Miller, a former federal budget director, and Jay Stephens, a former U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB