THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 3, 1994 TAG: 9409030489
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN JOLLY DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FRANKTOWN LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Doug Wilder relaxed, legs crossed, in a folding chair that somebody had put in the lobby of Franktown's post office. He wore shiny black cowboy boots. Tooled into the leather, and painted gold, was the shield and motto of Virginia.
``Sic Semper Tyrannis.'' Thus Always to Tyrants.
As people trickled into the post office to get their mail, they glanced shyly at Wilder. Campaigning on the Eastern Shore the day after a visit by Sen. Charles S. Robb, Wilder looked so comfortable in a folding chair that he could have been sitting on his own sofa.
He didn't sit still for long, though. Each person got a dazzling smile, a warm handshake, and a flier with a list of Wilder's accomplishments.
``If you look at my piece here, there's nothing in here about anybody else's record but my own,'' said the former governor. ``I don't denigrate, disparage, or put down the other person at all. I just put in there that this is my record. And I'm going to run on that. Not mud.''
As governor, Wilder said, he set a substantial record for supporting projects on the Eastern Shore. During his administration, the Kiptopeke State Park and Farmer's Market at Melfa were funded, Northampton County got priority status for state money to build new schools, and both Eastern Shore counties - Northampton and Accomack - collected millions in community development grants.
``You need the best possible representation you can get,'' Wilder said of his campaign for the U.S. Senate. ``Look at this area, on the Eastern Shore. Whoever else looked out for it? Whoever else represented it? People always come over here to campaign, like Robb did yesterday - `Hi! Bye! If you didn't see me it's your fault!' But I'm going to be here today and here tomorrow.''
Wilder drove up the Shore in a white station wagon, stopping at half a dozen small towns. The car was a striking contrast to his transportation in former days, when Wilder flew in and out in the governor's helicopter.
One question remains. Will Wilder's run for the Senate do nothing more than split the Democratic vote and assure a victory for Republican candidate Oliver L. North?
``I disagree with that,'' said Dan Conley, a campaign aide. ``We've been on the road the whole month, and you'd be surprised at the conservative Republican support - support that cannot go to Robb. They don't want to vote for North, and believe that Coleman is not a factor in this race. They've shown support for us all over the place.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Wilder
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE CANDIDATE by CNB