Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 8, 1994 TAG: 9404080155
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The sources cautioned that Wilder has not made a final decision whether to run. They said he first plans to support state Sen. Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount, who began his own petition drive last month to get on the ballot for the June 14 Democratic primary election.
If Goode fails to collect the 15,000 signatures of registered voters needed to place him on the ballot, or if he appears certain to lose the primary to Sen. Charles Robb, then Wilder will be prepared to quickly launch an independent candidacy, the sources said.
Wilder could not be reached for comment Thursday. His former spokesman, Glenn Davidson, declined to discuss the matter. The former governor said last month that he may oppose Robb, his longtime political enemy, by running as either a Democrat or an independent.
Craig Bieber, Goode's campaign manager, said Wilder has not told Goode that he will support him. "This is news to us," he said.
Bieber said Goode called Wilder several weeks ago to tell the former governor about his candidacy. "The governor indicated to Virgil that he appreciated his call and wished him well," Bieber said.
Wilder and Goode are close political friends. When Wilder launched his long-shot candidacy for lieutenant governor in 1985, Goode was among the first legislators who endorsed him. Four years later, Goode nominated Wilder for governor at the Democratic state convention.
Several longtime Wilder advisers are assisting Goode in his campaign. They include former state Democratic Chairman Paul Goldman, Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner Rhett Walker and Joseph Trippi, the media consultant in Wilder's brief bid to become president in 1992.
The sources said Wilder will encourage his base of black voters to back Goode, although another Wilder intimate said the former governor will keep a low profile and will hew to a January pledge not to officially endorse a candidate in the primary.
"The governor would be just as happy not to run and see Virgil knock off Chuck Robb," one said.
But at the same time, they said, Wilder's supporters will orchestrate a petition drive for the former governor across the state. The deadline for independent candidates to get on the ballot is June 14.
The sources said Wilder will distance himself from the drive but won't stop it. Should Goode falter, the sources said, Wilder will have ample signatures on hand to qualify for the fall ballot at the last moment.
Late last year, Wilder pressured state Democratic leaders to hold a primary for the Senate, threatening to run as an independent if they did not capitulate. After his demand was met, Wilder announced he would not be a candidate.
"The party accommodated Gov. Wilder and I hope that if he runs, he runs as a Democrat," said state Democratic Chairman Mark Warner.
A spokesman for Robb declined to comment.
Wilder has long suspected that Robb was not supportive of his efforts to run for statewide office in the 1980s. Their feud erupted in 1991 when Robb's staff leaked to reporters an illegally taped telephone conversation between Wilder and a political supporter.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB