THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 7, 1994 TAG: 9406070460
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARGARET EDDS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940607 LENGTH: RICHMOND
Coleman broke his long silence on the rumored race, saying in telephone calls to reporters that he is ``inclined to run'' and will spend the next few days telephoning supporters and interviewing potential staff members.
{REST} Perhaps the clearest sign of Coleman's intent was his confirmation that he has abandoned his hard-line anti-abortion stance, which some analysts have said torpedoed his 1989 run for governor. He has returned to an earlier, more moderate stance.
Coleman's vow to ``make a final commitment within the next few days'' on running brings Virginia closer to what promises to be a tumultuous four-way race for the Senate. Republicans nominated former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver L. North last weekend, and Democrats will pick a nominee next Tuesday in a four-way primary including incumbent U.S. Sen. Charles S.Robb.
Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, a Democrat, is also expected to seek the seat as an independent.
North was dismissive of Coleman during a campaign stop in Roanoke, especially on the abortion issue. ``What was his position in the last campaign?'' North asked. ``Was he pro-life or pro-abortion? I don't think anyone knew.''
North added that he had supported Coleman as the nominee for governor in 1989, but that he didn't remember specific campaign appearances because ``it was not one of the shining moments of my life.''
Coleman, who has been accused of flip-flopping philosophically during a 20-year political career, said his personal position against abortion has not changed. But after ``long and hard and agonizing'' thought, ``I've come to the conclusion that government should not interfere in the lives of people in this issue beyond'' current law.
Coleman, who began his career as a GOP moderate, moved to the right on abortion in 1989 as he sought to capture the GOP nomination. He argued then that abortion should be allowed only to save the life of a mother, and not in any other cases, even of rape or incest.
Later, he softened that stance slightly, saying that as governor he would not propose altering the law to forbid abortions in cases of rape or incest.
Coleman said he remains opposed to government funding of abortions and supports parental notification when minors seek abortions. He would oppose legislation codifying legal rulings on abortion. ``I would not vote to change the law in any respect,'' he said.
A Northern Virginia lawyer who grew up in Waynesboro, Coleman acknowledged that he is under pressure to stick with the standard-bearer of a party that nominated him twice for governor, once for attorney general and several times for the House of Delegates.
But, he said, he has never heard such ``discontent, disillusionment and disgruntlement'' with the men likely to be the major party candidates, North and Robb.
Robb's personal life has been the subject of controversy, as has North's role in the Iran-Contra affair during the Reagan administration.
``People just believe we need a senator whose first priority is to represent people effectively and energetically, and someone not out of touch with the people,'' Coleman said.
Coleman said he remained mum during the Republican nominating process about a possible race because he did not want to detract from the campaign of former federal budget director James C. Miller III, whom Coleman supported. Coleman said he will decide ``no later than June 14.''
Asked whether he would be abandoning the party, he replied: ``It depends on how you define party. There are hundreds and thousands of Republicans who were not in that convention'' that nominated North.
{KEYWORDS} INDEPENDENT U.S. SENATE RACE
by CNB