Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 4, 1994 TAG: 9406060165
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND NOTE: BELOW LENGTH: Medium
The former Democratic governor had the temerity Friday to circulate petitions for his independent bid for the U.S. Senate at the state Republican convention.
And while Republicans heatedly debated whether to nominate Oliver North or Jim Miller for the Senate, Wilder walked away the big winner after the first day of the convention.
Actually, his aides were chased away by police. But before they left, they collected more than 2,000 signatures from Republican delegates, almost one-seventh of the 14,500 names of registered state voters Wilder needs to qualify for the Senate race.
The Wilder camp set up seven tables outside the doors of the Richmond Coliseum and politely greeted the Republicans as they entered the convention. Beneath each table was a bright blue banner quoting a recent North quip that "a true patriot would sign Doug Wilder's petition."
North believes he would be helped by Wilder's independent candidacy because it would siphon votes away from the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, incumbent U.S. Sen. Charles Robb.
Many Republicans shared the sentiment and eagerly signed the petitions. They said Wilder and Robb's longstanding public feud could only rebound to the success of the GOP.
"I think it's grand Doug Wilder wants to run," said Geraldine Walker, a delegate from Bedford. "He and Chuck Robb have provided a great sideshow over the years, and I would like to see it continue."
Some Republicans were not amused.
"Are you kidding?" shouted Clyde Sharrock of Galax. "You're trying to get a third-party candidate in there to run against North. I don't want any part of the shenanigan."
"I don't want to see Doug Wilder run for anything," said Glen Sutton of Verona. "He's just about ruined Virginia as it is."
Patrick McSweeney, chairman of the state Republican Party, was downright angry. "I'm not going to encourage people to play cynical games by getting Doug Wilder into this process," he snapped at a news conference.
McSweeney complained to the Richmond police, who in turn ordered Wilder's aides to move their tables to a public sidewalk 30 yards from the convention doors.
Glenn Davidson, Wilder's campaign manager, said he'll set the table up again today by the convention doors and will obligingly move back to the sidewalk if police insist.
"Isn't it unfortunate," Davidson said with a grin, "that the Republican Party chairman would deny his colleagues the right to sign a petition?"
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB