Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 7, 1994 TAG: 9406070103
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MARGARET EDDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Declaring that "extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," former state Attorney General Marshall Coleman confirmed Monday that he is likely to make an independent bid for the U.S. Senate this fall.
Coleman broke his long silence on the rumored race, saying in telephone calls to reporters that he "is inclined to run," and will spend the next few days telephoning supporters and interviewing potential staff.
Perhaps the clearest sign of Coleman's intent was his confirmation that he has abandoned the hard-line anti-abortion position that some analysts believed torpedoed his 1989 run for governor, and has returned to an earlier, more moderate stance.
Coleman's vow to "make a final commitment within the next few days" on running brings Virginia closer to what promises to be a tumultuous four-way race for the Senate. Republicans nominated Oliver North last weekend, and Democrats will pick a nominee June 14 in a four-way primary that includes incumbent Charles Robb.
Former Gov. Douglas Wilder, a Democrat, also is expected to bid for the seat as an independent.
North was dismissive of Coleman during a campaign stop in Roanoke, especially on the abortion issue. "What was his position in the last campaign?" North asked. "Was he pro-life or pro-abortion? I don't think anyone knew."
He added that he had supported Coleman as the party nominee for governor in 1989, but that he didn't remember specific campaign appearances because "it was not one of the shining moments of my life."
Coleman, who has been accused of flip-flopping philosophically during a 20-year political career, said his personal position against abortion has not changed. But after "long and hard and agonizing" thought, "I've come to the conclusion that government should not interfere in the lives of people in this issue'' beyond current law.
Coleman, who began his career as a GOP moderate, moved to the right on abortion in 1989 to capture the GOP nomination. He argued then that abortion should be allowed only to save the life of a mother, not even in cases of rape or incest.
Later, he softened that stance slightly, saying that as governor he would not propose altering the law to forbid abortions for rape or incest.
Coleman said he remains opposed to government funding of abortions and supports parental notification when minors seek an abortion. He would oppose legislation codifying legal rulings on abortion. "I would not vote to change the law in any respect," he said.
A Northern Virginia lawyer who grew up in Waynesboro, Coleman acknowledged that he is under pressure to stick with the standard-bearer of a party that nominated him twice for governor, once for attorney general and several times for the House of Delegates.
But, he said, "in all my years in Virginia politics," he has never heard such "discontent, disillusionment and disgruntlement" with the men likely to be the major party candidates, North and Robb.
Robb's personal life has been the subject of controversy, as has North's role in the Iran-Contra affair during the Reagan administration.
"People just believe we need a senator whose first priority is to represent people effectively and energetically, and someone not out of touch with the people," Coleman said.
Coleman said he remained mum on a possible race during the Republican nominating process because he did not want to detract from the campaign of former federal budget director Jim Miller, whom Coleman supported. His decision will be made "no later than June 14," he said.
Asked if he's abandoning the party, he replied: "It depends on how you define party. There are hundreds and thousands of Republicans who were not in that convention" that nominated North.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB