THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 13, 1994 TAG: 9409130363
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Virginia News
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE AND DAVID M. POOLE, STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
All those campaign strategists trying to portray U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb as a diehard supporter of President Clinton will have their work made easy for them next month.
Clinton will visit Virginia to campaign for fellow Democrat Robb at an Oct. 3 fund-raising event and rally at a Tyson's Corner Hotel, the White House confirmed Monday.
Robb denied that bringing Clinton into Virginia is a risky strategy, despite the fact that fewer than 40 percent of state voters approve of Clinton's job performance. Robb acknowledged, however, that the Clinton visit could play into efforts by his three opponents to ``carry out a plan of guilt by association.''
But Robb added that he's not about to walk away from the president in the heat of a campaign.
``Everyone understands that . . . I'm independent-minded. But I try to make the system work, and I think everyone pretty well respects that.
``Hopefully it (Clinton's appearance) will help me raise a few extra dollars.''
Details of the Robb-Clinton event Sheraton Premiere Hotel were unavailable Monday night. Sources said there likely would be a high-dollar benefit, followed by a Democratic rally.
News of the Clinton benefit brought a smile to the face of Robb's opponents.
``We'd like Bill Clinton to come often. We hope he travels to every section of the state and talks about how much help Chuck Robb has been in promoting his agenda,'' said Dan Conley, campaign spokesman for independent L. Douglas Wilder.
Republican Oliver L. North also played the endorsement game Monday, flying around the state with Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole, R-Kan. They made stops at airport rallies in Alexandria, Roanoke, Norfolk and Richmond. In Richmond, Dole was also guest speaker at small fund-raising dinner for North.
Dole once characterized North as a ``loose cannon,'' and was less than enthusiastic last June when North won the GOP nomination. Dole, a potential 1996 presidential candidate who is looking for support from Virginia Republicans, said those differences are resolved.
``We all say things,'' he shrugged when asked about his past statements.
Dole said North's election is critical if Republicans are to gain a Senate majority in November's election. The GOP now occupies 44 of 100 seats in the chamber.
``I think Ollie North is going to be a great senator.'' He said North would supply ``one more vote for a balanced budget. One more vote for the line-item veto.'' Dole said he and North also agreed on ``real health care reform that won't put small businessmen out of business with mandates'' and in cutting capital gains taxes. He said North would have been ``one more vote to stiffen up the crime bill.''
Dole said he'll come back to Virginia for North next month. North's staffers said they also expect former Vice President Dan Quayle to make a stop in Virginia on Sept. 30.
North's opponents mocked Monday's appearance by Dole, who they said is exactly the kind of career politician and Washington insider that North claims he's running against.
North ``keeps saying he's an outsider who won't kiss anyone's ring,'' said Anson Franklin, campaign manager for independent J. Marshall Coleman. ``Then he goes back up to Washington pleading for insiders to campaign with him. It raises questions about his credibility.''
Coleman also got some help Monday from friends - or at least one friend - in high places. Republican U.S. Sen. John W. Warner traveled to Richmond's West End for the first of five fund-raising events for Coleman, a former GOP state attorney general who is running as a Republican alternative to North.
A campaign spokesman said Coleman has raised $500,000, and is beginning to sock away money for a blitz of TV commercials in the final weeks before the Nov. 8 election.
Wilder met Monday with about 40 black ministers in Richmond to discuss campaign strategy. Wilder, who earlier this year completed his term as the nation's first black elected governor, is shoring up his support in the African-American community after some high-profile defections last week to Robb.
On crime, Wilder said a no-parole plan advanced by his successor, Gov. George F. Allen, ``might help.''
``Would it be the be-all and end-all? No.'' ILLUSTRATION: PAUL AIKEN/Staff
Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole, R-Kan., right, joins Oliver
North at a campaign stop in Norfolk on Monday.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE CANDIDATES by CNB