Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 12, 1993 TAG: 9312120053
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The Democratic State Central Committee voted 125-75 Saturday to choose its Senate nominee through a primary rather than a convention. The action is likely to end Wilder's threat to run as an independent.
The governor, apparently concerned that a convention would dilute his base of black voters, had suggested that unless Democrats opted for a primary he might bolt the party to create a three-way fight next fall between him, Robb and the Republican nominee, most likely former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North.
"I am pleased that the Democratic Party has seen the wisdom of my call for a primary," Wilder said. ". . . This vote is a clear reflection that the rebuilding process in the Democratic Party has begun."
Until this week, it appeared Democratic leaders were leaning toward a convention, a method many believed would help Robb. But sentiment shifted after Robb announced that he, too, preferred a primary because it would be more `inclusive.`
In addition to Robb and Wilder, two lesser-known candidates - Syliva Clute of Richmond and Dan Alcorn of Fairfax County - backed an election. So did Lt. Gov. Donald Beyer and the General Assembly's 13-member black caucus.
"People who were undecided said `why shouldn't we give the candidates what they want?' " said party Vice Chairman Ken Geroe of Virginia Beach, who had pushed for a convention.
The primary will be the first statewide for Democrats since 1977, when Henry Howell of Norfolk captured their gubernatorial nomination. After the liberal Howell lost that November, Robb and other centrist Democrats pushed for convention nominations through the 1980s.
"When we have a primary, we lose in the ensuing general election," said George Gilliam, the party's 7th District chairman. Republicans also lost the general election for governor in 1989, after their only modern statewide primary.
Many Democrats who favored a convention again in 1994 suggested neither Robb nor Wilder can win a general election. A convention would have made it easier for a compromise candidate to emerge late in the nominating process.
Under state law, primary candidates must file by April 15. The state's "sore loser" law forbids anyone losing a primary from running as independent in the general election.
Because Virginia does not register voters by party, the primary will be open to all qualified voters. That didn't sit well with some at Saturday's meeting. "For Republicans, or people who are not our friends, the opportunity to hurt us is great," said Christie Vernon of Newport News. "They absolutely do plan to vote for whoever they perceive as the weakest candidate."
Proponents of a convention also argued that the primary will force another public airing of the highly personal feud between Robb and Wilder. The fight peaked in 1991, when Robb's office leaked transcripts of an illegally intercepted telephone conversation between Wilder and a political supporter.
But backers of a primary argued it is better to put the nomination in the hands of voters than the party activists who tend to dominate conventions. "The decision will be made by the voters after open debate and not behind closed doors," said Rep. Robert Scott, D-Newport News.
Bob Holsworth, a political scientist at Virginia Commonwealth University, savored the prospect of Wilder and Robb going one-on-one next spring. "It will be a battle worthy of pay-per-view," he said.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB