THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 28, 1994 TAG: 9409280447
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAVID M. POOLE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb on Tuesday paid an early-morning visit to his Democratic rival, former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, to discuss setting aside their bitter feud for the sake of thwarting the rise of Republican challenger Oliver L. North.
Robb said he hoped the meeting would be the first step toward a Wilder endorsement, which could go a long way toward helping Robb consolidate support among black voters once loyal to Wilder's now-abandoned independent bid for the Senate. ``Obviously, I would be very grateful for his endorsement,'' Robb said.
Wilder was unavailable for comment. Wilder spokesman Glenn Davidson declined to discuss the possibility of a Wilder nod coming before the Nov. 8 election.
North immediately ridiculed the prospect of a Robb-Wilder alliance, holding a press conference in Washington, D.C., to display a chocolate-and-vanilla, wedding-style cake labeled ``Chuck + Doug?'' in green icing. The cake had two shotgun shells on top, and North said it was to ``celebrate what Bill Clinton wants to be a classic shotgun wedding.''
The president, he claimed, had stepped in to help Robb hitch ``his broken-down Chuckwagon to Wilder's star'' in a ``desperate, cynical attempt'' to woo black voters.
Since Wilder dropped out two weeks ago, Robb has been working hard to energize African Americans, who have been a cornerstone in Robb's three previous statewide victories.
A poll released this week showed Robb had the support of nearly half of blacks, compared to 14 percent for independent J. Marshall Coleman and 4 percent for North. Some 34 percent were undecided.
After his meeting with Wilder on Tuesday, Robb appeared at a State Capitol news conference where he was endorsed by the 13-member Virginia Black Legislative Caucus.
Del. Jerrauld C. Jones, a Norfolk Democrat who chairs the caucus, described North - a former Marine lieutenant colonel who won fame in the Iran-Contra scandal - as a conservative ideologue who cannot distinguish between fact and fantasy.
``Oliver North will tell you that he is standing up for his beliefs,'' Jones said. ``Oliver North will tell you a lot of things. He'll inflate, exaggerate, deceive, distort, dissemble and just plain lie. He forged documents about illegal gifts he received, he lied to Congress about his arms sales to Iran and he has deceived the people of Virginia about his family and his personal history.''
North later replied: ``He's wrong. The people of Virginia very clearly do trust me to tell the truth. That's why I'm leading in the polls.''
Jones also alluded to last week's flap involving North's support for a group that fought for the right to fly the Confederate flag outside a city-owned museum in Danville. Robb opposes displaying the flag on public buildings.
``One candidate promoted a symbol from the past, a symbol of a nation divided and a people enslaved,'' Jones said. ``But the other candidate looked ahead to the future where all of us, from all races, can move forward together.''
Most members of the Black Caucus had remained neutral in the Senate contest until the departure of Wilder, who earlier this year completed his term as the nation's first elected black governor.
``We hope that Gov. Wilder will unite with us in support for Chuck Robb,'' Jones said.
It remains unclear, however, how firmly Wilder can embrace Robb after repeatedly trashing the incumbent Democrat as ``unfit for office.'' Wilder has noted that Robb was the target of a federal grand jury investigation into the release of an illegally taped phone conversation between Wilder and a supporter. Robb was not charged, but three former aides were found guilty of minor offenses.
Just three weeks ago, Wilder claimed during a televised debate that Robb had lost his credibility as a crime-fighter because of his attendance while governor at parties where cocaine allegedly was used. Robb has denied knowingly associating with drug users.
Tuesday, Robb said he thought Wilder could endorse him without appearing hypocritical.
``He recognizes,'' Robb explained, ``that in the heat of a contest some things are said.'' ILLUSTRATION: L. Douglas Wilder: In the past he has called Robb ``unfit for
office.''
Charles S. Robb: On Tuesday, he made a humble request of his
archrival.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sen. Charles S. Robb answers a question at a news conference at
which he was endorsed as a senatorial candidate by the Virginia
Legislative Black Caucus at the State Capitol on Tuesday, in
Richmond. At left is state Del. Jerrauld C. Jones of Norfolk; in the
center, state Sen. Benny Lambert.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE CANDIDATE by CNB