THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 31, 1994 TAG: 9407310083
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Democratic U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb won the endorsement of the Virginia AFL-CIO by default Saturday after none of his three challengers sought the support of the state's largest labor group.
``I'm very, very grateful for your continued support,'' Robb said at the organization's annual convention. ``We've differed on some issues along the way, but we've agreed on so many more.''
Robb said he is counting on union help with raising money, calling voters and getting them to the polls.
In past years, some statewide candidates have paid little attention to labor groups because Virginia is not a strong union state. But labor backing could be more significant in a four-way race. The state AFL-CIO says it represents 190,000 families in more than 400 local unions.
Robb was the only candidate to return an AFL-CIO questionnaire on issues, the group's leaders said.
``We did not invite any of the other Senate candidates (to the convention) because they did not seek our endorsement,'' said state AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer James R. Leaman.
But independent L. Douglas Wilder's campaign said he would have welcomed an invitation to address the group. Wilder had AFL-CIO backing in his successful bids for lieutenant governor and governor as a Democrat.
Wilder spokesman Dan Conley said the campaign never got the AFL-CIO questionnaire.
Spokesmen for Republican Oliver North and independent Marshall Coleman said they did not seek the labor group's backing.
Coleman did not respond to the questionnaire because ``I don't think they would have liked many of the answers. Chuck Robb's their man,'' campaign manager Anson Franklin said.
Robb promised to work closely with labor leaders on health reform and other issues. He noted they worked together to pass the Family and Medical Leave and motor voter registration acts and to get more aircraft carriers built in Virginia.
The first-term incumbent has taken heat from his challengers for refusing to take a stand on a union-backed bill that would bar employers from permanently replacing strikers. Wilder, North and Coleman oppose the bill. Robb did vote labor's way last month when he supported a motion to cut off debate and force the bill to a final vote. The effort failed and the bill has not passed.
Robb has yet to back any of the numerous health reform bills circulating on Capitol Hill, but he told the labor activists, ``It's important that whatever emerges keep the promise of universal coverage'' made by President Clinton.
Robb told reporters that he expects universal coverage to be in place by 2001. He said he could support offering tax deductions and other incentives to encourage employers to offer insurance to their workers, rather than simply requiring that they do it.
In any case, Robb said it is likely that the health care debate will keep him in Washington for much of August while his opponents campaign full-time.
``I'm looking at my late August plans for campaigning and fund raising and everything and it's all up in the air right now,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Sen. Charles S. Robb said Saturday that he is counting on the union
to help with raising money, calling voters and getting them to the
polls.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA CANDIDATES
ENDORSEMENTS by CNB