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

DATE: SUNDAY, August 28, 1994                   TAG: 9410110067
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                 LENGTH: Short

NORTH ON TARGET WITH SPITTING IMAGE

North spent an hour last week on the morning drive-time show of a Richmond hard-rock radio station.

The disc jockeys at WRXL-FM hooked North up on the telephone with rock 'n' roll wildman Ted Nugent, who happens to be a bow hunter and - like North - an advocate of the National Rifle Association.

After a moment or two of manic banter (someone suggested Nugent should consider decaf), disc jockey Jeff McKee said he had heard from North's dentist that the retired Marine has a unique talent: ``Apparently you can squirt through the gap in your teeth.''

``That's why we never had it closed,'' North said.

At which point McKee pulled out a red and white shooting target and walked about 10 feet across the studio.

``Go ahead, let's see if you can hit that baby,'' McKee said. ``Don't worry about hitting the microphone.''

North took a drink from his cup of water, squinted his eyes, leaned back and let fly a laser beam of water.

``BULL'S EYE!'' someone yelled, and the place went nuts, including the rock 'n' roller on the telephone.

``Nugent,'' barked a proud North, ``couldn't do that well with a bow.''

A reporter from the New York Times happened to be traveling with the candidate that morning, and a picture of North spewing water landed on the Times' front page the next morning.

The North campaign was ecstatic.

``A lot of people have responded very positively to it,'' said one aide. ``It shows he's a regular guy.''

Keywords:
POLITICS