Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 26, 1994 TAG: 9409260029
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY AND DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Charles Robb still is talking about education reforms he implemented as governor more than a decade ago. Oliver North still is focusing on his military record. Talk about your warm fuzzies. And then there's Marshall Coleman, who's evidently trying out to be the new Motel 6 pitchman.
Sure, Coleman's radio ad attacking both Robb and North may be funny. But wasn't this supposed to be Armageddon? What happened to the nuclear war that was supposed to break out, with Robb attacking North for being a liar and a zealot during Iran-Contra and North blasting Robb for running around with drug dealers at Virginia Beach?
Virginia Tech political analyst Bob Denton speculates that Robb and North may be afraid to attack each other, because each knows the other side has plenty of ammunition of its own to fire back. "It's an interesting game of chicken," he says, to see who finally goes first. He speculates that Robb is holding back, trying to delay such an all-out television ad war as long as possible, on the theory that a short campaign benefits Robb, while a long one plays to North's advantage. North, after all, has the bigger campaign war chest.
Which brings us back to our panel of professorial pundits on parade, who haven't been heard from in a while. This week's question:
Is this turning out to be the campaign you thought it would be?
Toni-Michelle Travis, George Mason University: No. "I thought that Coleman would really try to create a new image for himself. Instead, he doesn't seem to have a platform and a following. I don't quite understand his campaign. North is a consistently strong campaigner, hammering his message. But Robb, I thought he'd be more aggressive. A lot of people keep waiting for him to turn up the heat. I don't think he's ever been challenged in this way before. Robb has lit no fire. He hasn't particularly gone after North on anything. I don't think he's afraid to campaign, but it looks that way. If he's defining that as senatorial, he's defining it wrong. People are expecting something else, someone who has some spark, more of a leader."
Bob Denton, Virginia Tech: "No, it's not the campaign I thought it would be. I've been surprised by Robb's strategy throughout the summer. I'm surprised by North's reserve so far in terms of the debates and his media. And quite frankly, I'm surprised Coleman is even going to go to Election Day. I thought the intensity of the North campaign would have been at a boiling point by now and that Robb would have been more aggressive. I had anticipated a steady barrage. Instead, it looks like it'll end like World War II, with a couple big bombs at the end. I don't think North or Robb can wait much longer; there's a window of only a few weeks left to change the dynamics of the campaign, or it's going to be just pure chaos the last few weeks" because the race will be so close.
Bob Holsworth, Virginia Commonwealth University: "I think it's going to be. Right now, it's just the preliminary skirmishes, and the air wars are just kind of warming up. But Coleman is sharpening the character attacks. North is starting to use it in his public comments, but not his ads. Eventually, it'll seep onto TV, and then it'll just escalate. The negative attacks will begin relatively soon. I'd advise people to hold onto their seats, because the campaign will start moving a lot."
North to the attack
Oliver North must have skipped class on the days they taught defensive war strategy at the U.S. Naval Academy.
North proved Friday that he knows only one response when attacked: counterattack.
All day, North and his aides anticipated that U.S. Sen. Charles Robb would go on the offensive about North's remarks in support of displaying the Confederate flag.
When Robb lobbed his grenade, North was waiting with a howitzer.
When it was over, North had tried to turn the tables on Robb by weaving in attacks on Robb for his feud with fellow Democrat Douglas Wilder that led to a federal wiretap investigation, and for his off-hours socializing at Virginia Beach during his term as governor in the mid-1980s.
North seemed pleased with his performance as he left his news conference.
"It's offense; it's all offense," he said. "The best defense is a good offense."
Gore visits on Friday
Vice President Al Gore's visit to Roanoke will be this Friday, but don't count on getting much of a glimpse of him. Gore won't fly into Roanoke until about 7 p.m., and then he'll be whisked to a private fund-raiser for Robb at Center in the Square. Then it's across the street to the City Market building, where he'll join Democrats at an "old-fashioned barn dance."
Helms, Dornan coming to town
North is bringing in some big guns of his own to help him. On Oct. 7, Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina and Rep. Bob Dornan of California will join North at a fund-raiser in Roanoke.
The reception, to be held at businessman Ralph Smith's home on the side of Mill Mountain, costs $250 a pop, and is being billed as North's major fund-raising activity in this part of the state.
North organizers say they expect to take in about $100,000. If so, that would make it the second-biggest fund-raising event North has held in the state, they say.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB