THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 7, 1994 TAG: 9408070040
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
For the next month, the Winnebago of Republican Senate candidate Oliver North will have to share the road with a shiny, red Ford Taurus carrying independent candidate L. Douglas Wilder.
Wilder kicked off a statewide campaign tour Saturday afternoon in Richmond's historic Shockoe Slip before about 60 supporters.
He strolled through the crowd, shaking hands, giving hugs and making small talk with the crowd.
Wilder dismissed recent polls that show him trailing North and incumbent Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb.
``You can't pay any attention to the polls,'' Wilder said. ``When the roll is called up yonder I'll be there.''
He largely refrained from attacking his opponents, who also include independent candidate Marshall Coleman, but said of Robb: ``We don't need a candidate who says, `Elect me because you elected me before.' ''
Wilder did question North's need for a concealed weapon permit, which was denied Friday by Clarke County Circuit Judge James L. Berry.
``That's going back to the Old West days,'' Wilder said. ``That's not progress, that's regress.''
North, who spent Friday wooing the hunting and fishing crowd at Smith Mountain Lake during a ``floating press conference,'' has said he applied for the permit because of a threat he received from a terrorist while working in the Reagan administration.
Cardell Patillo Sr., 38, drove to Richmond from Hampton Roads to show support for Wilder.
``I believe in his principles and what he stands for,'' he said. ``And like he said - there's no other candidate with a better record.''
Wilder's tour continues through Aug. 31 and spans nearly every region of the state. He plans stops in more than 35 cities and towns.
When the half-hour rally ended, Wilder rode off as his supporters chanted, ``Go, Doug!'' Wilder smiled, waved and gave the peace sign and a thumbs up to the crowd.
He was scheduled to stop later Saturday in Farmville and Cumberland. His Sunday itinerary included visits to seven Southside Virginia churches. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
U.S. Senate candidate L. Douglas Wilder addresses about 60
supporters at a fountain in Shockoe Slip Plaza in Richmond on
Saturday as he kicks off a campaign tour of the state. He plans to
visit every congressional district before the end of August.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA CANDIDATES
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