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

DATE: MONDAY, August 15, 1994                   TAG: 9408150082
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IS CLINTON FIFTH WHEEL IN RACE?

Listening to Oliver North these days, you don't hear much about the man who holds the job he wants - U.S. Sen. Charles Robb. Instead, North is more likely to attack President Clinton.

That's bad news for Democrats, warns former state party chairman Paul Goldman. "North has more potential than anybody perceives," Goldman says. If North is the issue, the Republican candidate's appeal is limited, Goldman says. "That makes it difficult on the swing voters, because he's much too much of a zealot."

But if North can transform his candidacy into a referendum on Clinton, and make himself the vehicle for anti-Clinton sentiment, then North stands a much better chance of expanding his base, Goldman warns. "North has a lot more control on this race than people think. Democrats have to be aware of it."

But is that so? That's the grist for this week's "Pundits on Parade," in which we ask:

To what extent will President Clinton be a factor in the Virginia Senate race?

Bill Schneider, American Enterprise Institute and CNN political analyst: "I think there are probably enough issues that Clinton probably won't be. Robb is reasonably close to Clinton, and Clinton isn't popular in Virginia; he's not really popular anywhere right now. But I don't think Clinton will be an overriding issue. With Oliver North in the race, you don't need more issues. And with Chuck Robb, too."

Matthew Franck, Radford University: "I think he'll be a factor in every race in the country. How much is the interesting question. It may depend on the outcome of some things happening in the next few weeks, such as the crime bill and the health care bill - what bills come out of the process, and who votes for them. It's too early to tell a lot. If it's a Democrats-only health care bill, that has the real potential for whipping up the North faithful. If it's a bipartisan health care bill that has Bob Dole shaking hands with Clinton at the signing ceremony, that's tougher. In a quirky way, North benefits from a bill that he can call 'the radical left socializing American medicine.'''

Bob Denton, Virginia Tech: "It is going to be a factor for every Democratic incumbent, be it senator, congressman or whatever. It's a midterm election, where the party that's in always suffers." But Denton thinks this year will be worse. "I think in many ways it will be a referendum on the presidency. In talking to Bubba and Bubbette, people are very disgusted, and I mean furious. They're going to vote against any incumbent. It's 'that mess in Washington.' I'm struck by the uniformity of it. People are so confused by health care, that's why a very simplified message [like North's] is easier to understand. You want to polarize your message."

Give me back my bullets

North won't be packing any heat for a while.

A judge in Clarke County, where North lives, recently refused to renew North's concealed-weapon permit. Judge James Berry denied the permit "on the ground that the applicant is not of good character."

North's campaign promptly went ballistic, pointing out that the same judge - a Democratic appointee - granted North's original permit two years ago and had no problems with North's character them. "This is a clear, politically motivated violation of Ollie North's Second Amendment rights," said a campaign spokesman.

North has said he needs the concealed weapon to defend himself against a possible terrorist attack. "The threat is very real," he says.

So what kind of weaponry does the Republican candidate prefer? According to the application, a Colt Commander, a Walther PPK, and a Smith & Wesson C/S Model 36. The Walther PPK, by the way, is the same kind of gun preferred by another undercover operative - James Bond.

Wilder says he's no quitter

Independent Douglas Wilder says he's dogged by the perception that he might be persuaded to drop out of the race. During a campaign stop in Radford last week, Wilder beseeched reporters to help get the word out that he's in the race to stay.

"Would you help me draft some Shermanesque statement?" he playfully asked.

"How about `read my lips'?'' one reporter called out.

Wilder howled in laughter. "The last guy who said that, lied. I don't think I'll try that."

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB