
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 13, 1994                   TAG: 9404130039
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

GOODE SAYS HE HAS ENOUGH SIGNATURES

State Sen. Virgil Goode declared victory on Tuesday in his three-week effort to gather 15,000 signatures from Virginia voters and qualify for the ballot in the June 14 Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate.

By delivering 30,000 signatures to the State Board of Elections, Goode appeared to establish himself as the strongest challenger this spring to embattled Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Charles Robb.

"I have traditional Virginia values,` said Goode, a Franklin County lawyer who has served 21 years in the state Senate. ". . .I think I'm the best candidate and if the people of Virginia get to know me, they'll like me."

It appears that four candidates will qualify for the Democratic ballot. In addition to Goode, Nancy Spannaus, a disciple of political extremist Lyndon LaRouche, already has turned in ample signatures. Robb and little-known Richmond lawyer Sylvia Clute are expected to submit their petitions before Friday's deadline.

Goode, by virtue of his political experience and popularity in western portions of the state, "starts off as the only serious challenger to Chuck Robb," said Mark Rozell, a political scientist at Mary Washington College.

Rozell said many Democrats have been "clamoring for a viable alternative to Robb," who has been plagued by reports of womanizing in the 1980s and a bitter relationship with former Gov. Douglas Wilder. "Goode accrues substantial support simply because he is not Chuck Robb," Rozell said.

Goode, 47, declined to discuss Robb's problems during a brief news conference. Recounting his vigorous drive to collect signatures, Goode said: "I had one person tell me, `All I'm looking for is an honest person.' Others said they want a fresh face in Washington."

Goode is known as one of the most conservative Democrats in the state Senate, consistently voting against new regulations and for legislation that would require physicians to notify parents before performing abortions on teenagers.

He has said, however, that he opposes any abortion restrictions beyond parental notification. He said he is against legisation that would ban homosexuals from the military and favors a constitutional amendment for a balanced federal budget.

Although he has yet to hire a campaign staff, acknowledged that he is a "longshot" bet to defeat Robb. He said expects to raise enough money to pay for televised campaign ads this spring.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB