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

DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994                   TAG: 9406170097
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

SEN. DOLE LINES UP TO SUPPORT NORTH

Republican Oliver North received a much-awaited endorsement Thursday from Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole of Kansas.

"I told Ollie I will do everything possible to assist his election to the U.S. Senate, including, of course, campaigning for him in Virginia," Dole said after an hour-long morning meeting with North in Washington.

"We need 51 Republicans in the Senate so Republicans can help set the agenda for America, and help change course from the Clinton administration's big-tax, big-spending, big-government programs," Dole said.

The endorsement assures that North will have the backing of the national Republican establishment. Earlier this week, he was embraced by Hailey Barbour, chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, chairman of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Virginia Republicans nominated North at their state convention Saturday.

Dole raised eyebrows on Sunday by declining to immediately endorse North and announcing that he would meet with Marshall Coleman, a two-time Virginia Republican nominee for governor who is considering running for the Senate as an independent this fall.

Dole told Coleman in the meeting Wednesday that he would not support him.

North, in response, quickly arranged a meeting with Dole. In addition to his endorsement, Dole gave North a $5,000 contribution from his political action committee, Campaign America.

Coleman could not be reached for comment. He is being encouraged to run by Virginia's senior senator, Republican John Warner. Warner declined to comment on Dole's endorsement.

Meanwhile, the man North beat at the convention - Jim Miller, a former federal budget director - wrote Coleman a letter Thursday urging him not to run.

"The time for an intraparty dispute has passed," Miller said. "For your own future in the Republican Party and for the future of Virginia, I hope you will end speculation about an independent candidacy and will agree to support the party's nominee."

Keywords:
POLITICS