Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 21, 1994 TAG: 9404210241
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WAKEFIELD LENGTH: Medium
If the major parties don't give voters candidates with such qualities, the voters will find someone else outside the parties, Warner told about 4,000 people at the 46th Shad Planking.
Warner, a Republican, has taken heat within the GOP for suggesting that Iran-Contra figure Oliver North isn't fit to serve in Congress.
North has responded by suggesting that Warner is among what he calls Washington insiders and professional politicians trying to scuttle his campaign for the GOP Senate nomination.
Warner also has been criticized for failing to support Michael Farris, his party's nominee for lieutenant governor last year. Farris is considering challenging Warner for the Senate nomination in 1996.
But Warner, adopting the ``outsider'' language used by his critics, appeared unconcerned.
``If along the way the professional politicians want to challenge me and hang me from the sour apple tree, so be it,'' he said.
The Shad Planking is an annual community fund-raiser for this Sussex County peanut town. Since World War II, the fish bake has become one of the major political activities of Virginia's spring season.
Not everyone comes for the politics.
Richard Hancock, a Virginia Beach pharmacist, wore a North sticker on one side of his shirt and a sticker for North's GOP rival, Reagan administration budget director Jim Miller, on the other side.
``That's just to keep people from bothering me,'' he said. ``I came to eat the fish.''
The gathering attracted nearly all of the Senate candidates, including North and Miller, as well as incumbent Democrat Charles Robb.
While many in the crowd feasted on plates of bony shad with cole slaw and hush puppies, North drew a huge mob of press and supporters when he arrived. Even former Gov. Mills Godwin got caught up in the crush of people and shook hands with North.
``It looks like the wind is blowing North around here,'' Godwin said as he made his way out.
Robb good-naturedly signed a North campaign poster that had Robb's picture on it beneath the words, ``Wanted by Virginia Taxpayers. You've Been Robbed.''
On the speaker's platform, Robb sat next to former Gov. Douglas Wilder, who is considering a Senate bid as an independent if Robb gets the Democratic nomination.
Robb and Wilder are longtime rivals, and they didn't greet one another until Warner stopped in mid-speech and ordered them to shake hands.
Republicans will choose North or Miller in a June 4 convention in Richmond.
The Democratic nominee will be chosen in a June 14 primary. Robb is opposed by Richmond attorney Sylvia Clute, state Sen. Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount and Nancy Spannaus, a follower of political extremist Lyndon LaRouche.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB