THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 25, 1994 TAG: 9410250344
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Third District Congressman Robert ``Bobby'' Scott received strong support from the Rev. Jesse Jackson on Monday night in his bid for re-election.
Speaking to a full house at the First Baptist Church Denbigh, Jackson drew loud applause with his praise for Scott, who will face Republican Thomas E. Ward on Nov. 8.
``If anybody's qualified to be senator for Virginia, and president, it's Bobby Scott,'' Jackson said. ``He's a good young man . . . so intelligent, so able.''
Scott, who arrived near the end of the program, said he wants to continue the progress Democrats have made in Congress. ``I don't want to go back to the record deficits,'' he said. ``We need to continue going forward, not backward.''
Jackson also endorsed U.S. Sen. Charles S. Robb, claiming that Robb has a solid record of fighting for workers' rights, gender equality and ``building bridges.''
Democrats, Jackson said, have successfully lowered the deficit, inflation and the unemployment rate. Republican Senate candidate Oliver L. North, he said, represents a step backward for blacks.
``Reagan knew Oliver North. (John) Warner knew Oliver North. If they can't trust him, we can't try him,'' Jackson said.
Jackson appeared at the church as part of his campaign with the Rainbow Coalition to get more blacks to vote.
``We have bled much. We've died young for this right to vote,'' he said. ``This is perhaps the most critical election since 1964.''
He told the audience that black Virginians are ``standing at the crossroads, going forward by hope or backward by fear.''
``Hands that once picked cotton can now pick senators and prisoners,'' he said.
Scott reminded the congregation that Newport News has had close elections in the past and that every vote counts. ``The people that vote and the people that don't vote will make the difference,'' he said. ``I'm running for re-election and I want you to vote.''
The 3rd District, which stretches from Richmond to Norfolk, is the state's only black-majority district. It was formed two years ago, the year Scott was elected. ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Jesse Jackson tells a Baptist congregation in Newport News why they
should re-elect U.S. Rep. Robert ``Bobby'' Scott. Jackson's visit
was part of a campaign to get more blacks to vote.
KEYWORDS: CANDIDATE CONGRESSIONAL RACE
POLITICAL ENDORSEMENT
by CNB