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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 4, 1994                   TAG: 9405040128
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MARGARET EDDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

FORMER ROBB BACKERS EAGER FOR WILDER TO RUN

Wilder's potential race against incumbent Sen. Charles Robb, a fellow Democrat, poses a dilemma for longtime party activists such as Viesta Washington of Richmond, who remembers fondly her first glimpse of Robb as he wooed a downtown lunch crowd more than a decade ago.

``He was really dynamic. I was very impressed,'' Washington said. ``He brought the Democratic Party together during that time.''

But the times - and Washington - have changed.

On Tuesday, the social worker patrolled a Virginia Union University polling site with a petition for Wilder. Replayed in other predominantly black precincts in Richmond and across Virginia, such signature-gathering missions prove that the former governor is inching closer to a U.S. Senate bid.

The pro-Wilder activity of former Robb backers such as Washington suggests that, even if Wilder doesn't run, the mere threat of his presence may erode Robb's traditional strength among black voters.

That could be a crippling loss if one of Robb's three opponents in the June 14 Democratic primary emerges as a strong contender.

``I'm beginning to wonder, should I even vote in the Democratic primary?'' Washington said.

Wilder needs to gather about 15,000 signatures from registered voters by June 14 to qualify for the November ballot as an independent candidate. A Democrat, Wilder passed up the chance to run in the Democratic primary against Robb and three other hopefuls.

Nor are Tuesday's petition blitz and the red-and-white ``Wilder for U.S. Senate'' T-shirts popping up at some precincts the only signs of Wilder's interest. Last weekend, he was back on the stump at an anti-violence rally in Richmond. Former aides say he has been personally soliciting money, something Wilder has been reluctant to do in some campaigns.

And his rhetoric - while still hedged - has shifted subtly.

A few weeks ago, word from Wilder's confidantes was that he wouldn't run if the nomination went to someone besides Robb, with whom he has feuded for most of the past decade. In particular, state Sen. Virgil Goode of Franklin County has gotten support from a number of Wilder associates.

That led many volunteers to question ``whether these are conditional petitions,'' Wilder said in an interview last week. The answer ``is no,'' he said. ``These petitions are not conditional at all. They are not based on who wins the primary.''

``I know people think he can be unpredictable,'' responded Washington. ``But I don't think he would have us out here doing this if he didn't think he was going to [run].''

James Elam, a self-employed contractor, also has supported Robb in past campaigns. But Tuesday, he was distributing Wilder petitions outside an elementary school that serves one of Richmond's largest public housing projects.

``It's unfortunate but true. We have a Democratic senator we can't feel comfortable with at this time,'' said Elam.

``I'm not sure he's going to run,'' he said of Wilder, ``but I think he's the best man for the job in this particular race.''

Keywords:
POLITICS