ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, April 25, 1997                 TAG: 9704250073
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-3  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE

WILDER DELAYS PICKING SIDES IN GOVERNOR'S RACE

Former Gov. Douglas Wilder says he won't take sides in Virginia's race for governor before October.

Wilder, in comments Wednesday to a University of Virginia class, also said he sees little difference in substance between Democrat Don Beyer and Republican Jim Gilmore.

``They have different styles,'' he said. ``Don Beyer is a very charismatic type of person ...but that doesn't necessarily carry the day.''

Wilder said he would sponsor a debate Oct. 6 in Richmond between Beyer and Gilmore. ``I won't take sides prior to that,'' he said.

-ASSOCIATED PRESS

LENGTH: Short :   25 lines
KEYWORDS: POLITICS GOVERNOR