THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1994 TAG: 9406150532
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEC KLEIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940615 LENGTH: Medium
``I voted for Chuck Robb because it's the only way we're going to beat Ollie North,'' said Jim N. McCord, a 56-year-old William and Mary College history professor.
{REST} Then again, Tammy S. Haney, a 28-year-old Virginia Beach homemaker, voted for Robb ``because I think he would be the easiest for North to beat.''
The incumbent faced off Tuesday in the Democratic primary against state Sen. Virgil H. Goode Jr., Richmond lawyer Sylvia Clute and Lyndon LaRouche associate Nancy Spannaus.
Robb will face Oliver L. North, the Republican nominee, in the fall general election.
For at least one vote toward that honor, Robb can thank his wife, Lynda Bird, the daughter of former President Lyndon B. Johnson.
``I haven't agreed with everything he's done, but I think his mother-in-law will keep him in order,'' said 68-year-old Phyllis F. Smith, who sells antiques in Williamsburg.
The diminutive shopkeeper then took a swipe at North, the retired Marine officer who emerged a celebrity from the Iran-Contra scandal: ``If some disaster should befall him, it would be a good thing for the country.''
And so it went all day Tuesday as voters trickled in to polling precincts from rural New Kent County to upscale Williamsburg, from urban Portsmouth to suburban Virginia Beach. Each seemed to choose from a different combination of political scenarios.
Scenario 1: Unfamiliar with candidates, voters go with incumbent:
``Left with a choice of the `lesser of,' you go with who you know, you go with the incumbent. I'm only adamantly opposed to one - that's North. I'm an ex-military man, and I don't feel what he did was right.'' - James D. Hildreth, a 46-year-old retired Navy technician from Virginia Beach.
(Footnote: North was convicted of three felonies related to Iran-Contra - tampering with documents, impeding Congress and accepting an illegal gratuity. Those convictions were later overturned on a technicality).
Scenario 2: Voters ignore Robb's personal indiscretions.
``Give the job to Robb. I think he's been a good senator, and his personal business is his.'' - Logan A. Pemberton, a 75-year-old retired civil servant from New Kent.
(Footnote: Robb, who has admitted marital indiscretions, has been accused of attending Virginia Beach parties where drugs were used. He insists he never saw such activity).
Scenario 3: Tired of Robb's dalliances, voters go with Goode.
``Guys keep getting away with it. I'm tired of feeling that they think they're above everyone else, that they're above the law. That really bugs me. . . . Goode seemed to be a logical choice.'' - Bernard E. Eacho, 59, owner of a Richmond Amoco gas station.
Scenario 4: Disaffected by Goode's negative campaigning, voters opt for Robb.
``I thought Goode at first was going to be good, but when he started all this negative advertising, he wasn't saying what he was going to do for us. To me that turns me off. (Robb) hasn't downed anybody, I just think he has more class. Robb definitely has the most experience.'' - Joanna J. Kasky, a 66-year-old retired department store buyer from New Kent.
Scenario 5: Voters like Robb and Goode, but would choose L. Douglas Wilder, former Democratic governor, current independent Senate candidate.
``Wilder seems to be an intelligent man, even though he and Robb have had it out,'' said 54-year-old Lillian D. Cooper of Portsmouth, who was working the polls for Robb but said she would support Wilder in the fall. ``People have been looking for Wilder today. They've been asking me (whether Wilder was on the primary ballot.) Then they say, `I don't know who to vote for.' ''
{KEYWORDS} DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY U.S. SENATE RACE
by CNB