ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, August 15, 1996 TAG: 9608150072
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: SAN DIEGO
SOURCE: ROBERT LITTLE STAFF WRITER
NOTE: Below
Former presidential candidate Steve Forbes hopped onto a tiny riser, pumped his hands in the air and waited with a crinkly grin until an exuberant group of Virginia Republicans finally calmed down.
``Wow,'' he said, when it got quiet enough for him to speak. ``Wish I had you up in New Hampshire.''
An hour later, Pat Robertson was on the same small stage, before the same small crowd, grinning widely and waiting for them all to give it a rest.
``Isn't it great to be a Republican,'' he finally said. And the cheering started all over again.
In the delirious cloud of the Republican National Convention, any celebrity GOPer is worth an ovation to the party faithful. But Forbes and Robertson - both one-time presidential aspirants, both runners-up - got receptions befitting the party godfathers Wednesday at the Virginia delegation's first formal party rally.
The gathering was called more to pump up the troops than discuss policy. Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, Ohio Rep. John Kasich and Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson all spoke, giving the Virginia delegation its first in-the-flesh glimpse at the party's national firepower.
But in Forbes and Robertson, the delegation embraced two Republicans on the periphery of the convention proceedings, but whom many Virginians are willing to credit with molding the presidential ticket: Forbes for his flat-tax proposal, which has been incorporated into the Dole agenda, and Robertson for his morals, which have permeated the party fabric.
"Steve Forbes has set the economic agenda for this United States, for hope and growth and opportunity," said Attorney General Jim Gilmore, who introduced Forbes to the Virginia delegation.
And when Robertson proposed eliminating government assistance for Planned Parenthood, the crowd of 50 offered a rowdy ovation.
Forbes praised Bob Dole's economic agenda, while Robertson waxed about the potential of a Republican Congress married with a Republican White House.
"I have a dream," said Robertson, stealing a line from Martin Luther King Jr. "I have a dream of seeing a new America under Republican leadership from every level.''
The rest of the rally was reserved mostly for criticizing President Clinton. Robertson, technically a Virginia delegate but making his first appearance at the delegation hotel, called Clinton "the most adroit teller of falsehoods who has ever occupied high office in America."
Said Gilmore: "This president thinks all you need to do is go on MTV and play the saxophone and you've got policy."
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: HUY NGUYEN Staff. Alternate delegate Trixie Averillby CNBgreets Pat Robertson as he leaves the podium after addressing
Virginia's delegation. KEYWORDS: POLITIC PRESIDENT