Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 11, 1994 TAG: 9405110122
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: NEW RIVER (2 STAR)
SOURCE: By WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
"We Democrats need leaders we can be proud of, leaders for our children to emulate," Goode said in a two-page letter mailed to 2,000 party leaders and office-holders across the state. "We need to read headlines about positive change for Virginia and the United States, rather than ones about marital indiscretions, drugs and grand jury investigations.
"We need to stand behind a candidate who can win in November," Goode wrote.
Robb also was assailed Tuesday by Republican front-runner Oliver North, who derided the senator for advocating gay rights at a forum the day before.
Goode's letter came amid growing concerns from supporters that the state senator from Franklin County has been unfocused since announcing his candidacy last month and reluctant to assail Robb on character issues.
Advisers said the letter signals the start of an aggressive effort to focus attention on Robb's personal behavior. "Chuck Robb is the main issue," said Craig Bieber, a spokesman for Goode. "That's what all the people are talking about on the grass-roots level."
Bert Rohrer, a spokesman for Robb, denounced the letter as a desperate attempt by Goode to win the June 14 Democratic primary.
"It's unfortunate that Virgil Goode has to resort to these tactics when there are so many substantive issues he and Chuck Robb disagree on," Rohrer said. "Apparently some of his handlers have told him his only shot at this thing is negative campaigning."
Robert Holsworth, a political scientist at Virginia Commonwealth University, said Goode has "no choice" but to stress the character issue. "Given that time is short and Goode doesn't have much money to compete with Robb in television advertising, he has to find some way to engage the public in his campaign," Holsworth said.
Goode enclosed with his letter a number of editorials and newspaper columns condemning Robb for being less than candid about his extramarital dalliances and for frequenting Virginia Beach parties in the mid-1980s where cocaine allegedly was used. Robb denies ever seeing the drug at parties, and there is no evidence he ever used it.
For years, Robb denied reports of womanizing, insisting the only woman he "ever loved physically or spiritually" was his wife, Lynda. Last January, however, Robb acknowledged that he had behaved in a manner "not approriate for a married man."
Goode wrote: "Virginia Democrats need to stand behind a candidate who can tell the truth."
Robb said in 1991 that if he had witnessed "widespread" drug use at the Virginia Beach parties, he would have reported it to police. But he added, "I'm not saying that I would be a crusader in every instance where individuals may have been involved in some limited illegal activity."
Referring to that quote, Goode urged his party to "stand behind a candidate who will pledge to uphold the law."
Goode was derisive about a letter Robb wrote to supporters in January explaining his personal controversies. "Virginia Democrats need to stand behind a candidate who will write letters asking for your advice and help, not your forgiveness," he said.
North said Tuesday that Robb's support of gay rights is out of touch with most Virginians. In a speech Monday to the Human Rights Campaign Fund, a gay political action committee, Robb said homosexuals should be protected from workplace discrimination. He reiterated his support for allowing gays in the military.
The Human Rights Campaign Fund has contributed $10,000 to Robb's campaign.
A spokesman for North, Mark Merritt, predicted gay rights will become a major issue should North and Robb meet in the general election. "Chuck Robb focuses on special rights for homosexuals, while Ollie North focuses on the rights of Virginia's families," Merritt said.
North has crusaded against the admission of homosexuals in the military. That position is shared by Jim Miller, North's opponent for the Republican nomination. Goode supports current "don't ask, don't tell" regulations that prevent the military from screening recruits for their sexual orientation but allow it to discharge soldiers who openly display homosexual conduct.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB