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

DATE: TUESDAY, July 5, 1994                   TAG: 9407050048
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE . . . OLIVER NORTH AT THE FAIR?

The news release said Oliver North was going to be at the Salem Fair on Monday afternoon, campaigning before heading to Victory Stadium for an Independence Day celebration.

But where at the fair?

The gate attendant said North had passed his station. "Back there," he said, pointing to the midway. "He's got a big crowd with him."

That didn't help much - the whole place was a big crowd.

The Republican senatorial candidate wasn't at the petting zoo or getting an elephant ride - a logical place to look, it seemed, for the symbolism and all.

Was he trying to look into his political future? Nope, he wasn't to be found at the palm readers' tent.

No sight of him on the Tilt-a-Whirl, either.

The woman at the pork rind stand said she'd seen the elusive candidate. He'd stopped to chat a minute, which was surprising, considering the way North feels about pork.

A swing by Kachunga's alligator wrestling pit turned up no sign of him, either.

A final stop at the Salem Fair office revealed that a search for North was in vain.

"He's gone," they said. "Went over to Victory Stadium."

He'd left more than half an hour early. Without even sticking around for the puppet show.

by CNB