Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 24, 1994 TAG: 9410240083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Wilder, who abandoned his independent bid for the U.S. Senate five weeks ago, campaigned with Robb at a predominantly black church two days after endorsing the Democratic incumbent.
Some political analysts say the endorsement might have come too late for Robb, who is locked in a tight battle with Republican Oliver North as the Nov. 8 election nears. Independent Marshall Coleman is running a distant third.
``I don't think it's too late,'' Wilder told the Trinity Baptist Church congregation. ``I don't think any of you have voted yet.''
Wilder's exit from the race last month prompted immediate speculation about a possible endorsement, which finally came after he met with President Clinton last week.
``The delay was occasioned by my being a candidate,'' Wilder told reporters Sunday. ``You don't go from being a candidate one minute to endorsing someone else the next.''
Wilder said he is keeping his schedule as clear as possible until Nov. 8 so he can campaign for Robb.
``We'll be doing something almost every day,'' he said.
Said Robb, ``There's no question in my mind this is a very important endorsement.''
He said Wilder, the nation's first elected black governor, can deliver the strong turnout of black voters he must have to win.
Wilder, who had said as a candidate that Robb had accomplished nothing and did not deserve another six-year term, told reporters Sunday that ``the best possibilities for development of opportunities for young people ... would come more so from his candidacy than any of the others.''
He said it was not difficult to put aside their personal differences.
``A lot of the problems have come from persons associated with us ... from our staffs,'' Wilder said.
Robb said,``This was a very easy reconciliation for us, if you want to characterize it that way.''
In his remarks to the congregation, Wilder ridiculed North for saying U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno should investigate Wilder's meeting with Clinton. The Washington Times reported that a possible ambassadorship for Wilder was discussed if Wilder would help Robb.
``You can't tell me Oliver North is asking anybody to be investigated,'' Wilder said incredulously.
North, whose three felony convictions for his role in the Iran-Contra scandal were overturned on appeal, frequently describes himself as the most-investigated man in America.
Robb won the endorsement Sunday of the Washington Post and North the backing of The Times-News of Kingsport, Tenn.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB