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

DATE: SATURDAY, July 16, 1994                   TAG: 9407160045
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

DEMOCRATS FEAR ROBB CAN'T WIN, WILDER SAYS

Former Gov. Douglas Wilder said Vice President Al Gore's effort to persuade him to drop out of the U.S. Senate race this year suggests that Democrats are concerned that incumbent Sen. Charles Robb cannot win.

Wilder, who is running as an independent, said he is "incredulous" that recent polls show Robb with only a tiny lead in the four-way race.

"Is there anyone else in the Democratic Party running for re-election with such low numbers [as Robb]?" Wilder asked during a news conference Friday. "Absolutely not. It suggests something is wrong."

Wilder said voters and Democratic leaders may have deep concerns over Robb's support in 1991 for the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and the senator's "lack of support for crime and drug issues."

At Gore's behest, he and Wilder met for about 15 minutes in Washington, D.C., on Thursday and shared a limousine ride to the Capitol. Gore said he expressed hopes at the meeting that Wilder "would end up supporting the candidacy of Senator Robb."

Wilder, who was elected governor as a Democrat, said he told Gore that he was "resolute" about remaining in the race. He said Gore voiced concern that Wilder's presence in the race might help Republican Oliver North win the November election.

Wilder said Gore never specifically asked him to drop out of the race. "He wanted to be certain that Oliver North would be defeated," Wilder said.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB