Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 20, 1994 TAG: 9405230117
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Sterling E. Rives Jr. of Petersburg said he suspects the call came from the campaign of Oliver North, Miller's opponent in the June 4 convention. He said ``it was a threatening call more or less warning me that if I didn't support the nominee, I shouldn't go to the convention.''
North spokesman Mark Merritt said the campaign has been calling convention delegates to remind them of their loyalty pledge, but he said the call described by Rives did not sound like one from the North campaign.
According to Rives, the caller asked if he is a convention delegate - he is - and which candidate he is supporting. He said that after he replied he is supporting Miller, the caller brusquely informed him that party rules require delegates to support the GOP nominee in the general election.
Rives said he told the caller he was aware of the party rules and asked who the caller represented. The caller said he was calling on behalf of the state Republican Party.
``The party clearly is not doing this, period,'' said state GOP Chairman Patrick McSweeney. ``This is clearly something I don't approve of, and I'm going to stomp on it if I find out who's doing it.''
Merritt said the callers for the North campaign used a more civil tone than what Rives described, and they have not been instructed to say they are calling for the party.
He said the North campaign is reminding delegates of the loyalty pledge because Miller is telling his supporters that if he loses, they are free to support a possible independent bid by former Attorney General Marshall Coleman.
``That's absolute nonsense and they know it,'' said Miller spokesman Jonathan Baron.
McSweeney, who received a letter from Rives complaining about the phone call last week, said he has asked his staff and both campaigns to look into the matter, but he has heard nothing.
Rives said he went to the Petersburg prosecutor's office and complained about the incident but did not ask for any specific action.
Commonwealth's Attorney Cassandra Burns said she will have to talk to Rives before determining whether anything can be done.
``I think we're going to have a hard time because I don't believe he knows who called him,'' she said. ``It could have been a crank call.''
She said the type of voter intimidation alleged by Rives is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
Meanwhile, Del. John Watkins, R-Chesterfield, endorsed Miller at a Capitol news conference. He had intended to stay out of the nominating fight, Watkins said, but he decided to back the former Reagan administration budget director because of his ``impeccable credentials as a true Reagan conservative and unquestioned reputation as a man of honor and integrity.''
Watkins said Miller stands a better chance of beating Democratic Sen. Charles Robb, the front-runner in the June 14 primary.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB