THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 21, 1994 TAG: 9409210436
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARGARET EDDS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ARLINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Charging that Republican Oliver L. North has a ``fundamental lack of understanding of the Constitution,'' Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb said on Tuesday that he has joined the fight for the hearts and votes of Virginia's military men and women.
Robb unveiled support from several dozen high-ranking active and retired military officers, and promised to match North ``man for man and woman for woman'' by opening Veterans for Robb chapters across Virginia.
The announcement at a hotel reception came as a veterans group backing North said it already has more than 5,000 members and as a poll was to be unveiled in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch showing Robb trailing North, 37 percent to 31 percent.
Several of those attending the Robb announcement said they are concerned that North is appearing to have a monopoly on the patriotic vote. ``Ollie North's not the only war hero in this race,'' said former Virginia Beach state Sen. Moody ``Sonny'' Stallings, a Vietnam veteran who was master of ceremonies for the event.
``I just felt that Sen. Robb needed equal time from the military side. Mr. North has made great inroads with the military based on his brochures,'' added retired Marine Lt. Gen. Chuck Pitman of Alexandria. A Republican, Pitman was part of a group of military veterans who worked unsuccessfully to deny North the GOP Senate nomination last spring.
The veterans are only the latest group to voice concern that Robb's campaign against North has been unusually low-key.
Robb spent much of the summer in Washington attending to Senate duties, and only this week answered an onslaught of television advertising by North. Even though two Robb ads are now running across the state, the purchase of air time appears to be well below that of North during many weeks this summer.
In an informal press conference, Robb discounted the impression that fund raising may be a problem. His campaign manager informed him just this week that ``we are in the best cash position we have had at any time I can recall,'' he said.
Robb said he is ``simply husbanding resources,'' and that ``no one should be fooled by my relatively mild-mannered approach. I am prepared to fight and to fight very hard.''
While several of the officers endorsing Robb pointed primarily to his Senate achievements, others said their distaste for North was equally important to their decision.
``I have no use whatsoever for Oliver North,'' said retired Marine Brig. Gen. Gail Reals, who at the time of her retirement was the highest ranking woman in the Marine Corps. ``I believe he violated his oath to defend the Constitution. The things he did were things that undermine our basic institutions. It makes me shudder.''
Asked if he has respect for North, Pitman replied: ``No. I'm trying not to say anything bad about him. But I just don't have it, and that's a fact.''
But retired Lt. Col. Davey L. Stanley, who is heading the North for Senate Veterans Coalition, said such views are not shared by thousands of Virginia veterans. Stanley, who served in both the Army and the Air Force, said he seldom comes across a veteran who's opposed to North.
``I'll hang in here to the ends of the Earth for him,'' he said, noting that he has logged over 25,000 miles and has given up about $80,000 in income from his law practice to work for North since February.
Stanley said those veterans concerned about North's involvement in the Iran-Contra affair are usually mollified when he explains that North never lied under oath to Congress. And he said three items work against Robb with military voters: the senator's support for gays in the military, his willingness to let women serve in front-line combat, and his failure to support punishment for desecration of the American flag.
Several of the veterans endorsing Robb voiced concerns about some of those positions but said his overall record of public service outweighs any differences.
``There is a gulf a mile wide between the quality of Chuck Robb's understanding of the Constitution and Ollie North's,'' said Stallings, who was a lance corporal in the Marines. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
A poll to be released today shows Charles Robb trailing North.
A veterans group backing Oliver North says it is 5,000-strong.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA CANDIDATES
ENDORSEMENTS CAMPAIGNING by CNB