THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9411030407
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEC KLEIN, DAVID M. POOLE AND MARGARET EDDS, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Oliver L. North pledged Wednesday never to raise taxes if elected to the U.S. Senate, a promise his two opponents would not repeat.
``Let me be really emphatic,'' North, a Republican, said at a news conference in Washington. ``I'm on record as saying I will never vote to increase your taxes or my pay while I'm your senator.''
Democratic incumbent Charles S. Robb, who has said repeatedly that no option should be ruled out when attempting to reduce the federal deficit, said later that North was just pandering.
``That's precisely the kind of statement designed to curry favor with voters,'' Robb said while campaigning near Fredericksburg.
Independent candidate J. Marshall Coleman declined to take a categorical position on taxes because, he said, it is impossible to foresee what will happen over six years.
Coleman said he would work to reduce taxes, and on Wednesday he unveiled a plan to give families a $500 tax deduction for each child. Coleman claimed the plan would pay for itself through the ``trickle-down'' process of economic growth, which would generate additional taxes.
North, though, was all but absolute. ``I guess I ought to make one exception: If this country is in a state of war and we need those resources .
Asked what he would do if a Republican president asked for a tax increase, North said: ``Well, I'll tell you something: I'm not going to vote for it.''
The Republican also criticized Robb as an ineffective slackard in the Senate, saying the Democrat has steered only five bills through Congress in six years, including a commemorative measure honoring ham radio operators.
Robb responded with a long list of legislation that he either sponsored or helped to pass. Robb's list included at least five bills North did not list.
Most of Robb's legislative accomplishments are amendments to defense and other bills, including legislation benefiting Virginia shipbuilders and defense installations.
``It demonstrates once again how little he understands about the legislative process,'' Robb said, explaining that senior senators who chair committees tend to sponsor the most important bills.
Robb had a rocky day on the campaign trail Wednesday, peaking early by reading ``This is My Friend'' aloud to 18 kindergarten students at Featherstone Elementary School in Woodbridge.
The rest of the afternoon was what the incumbent called a ``momentary disconnect,'' which means that Robb was unceremoniously booted from the foyer of a General Motors plant outside Fredericksburg, then found himself with few hands to shake when he turned up nearly an hour late for the shift change at the factory gate.
Robb wound up his day with a rally outside the State Capitol attended by about 100 Richmond-area supporters. Joining Robb on the podium were former Democratic Govs. Gerald L. Baliles and L. Douglas Wilder, Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr. and U.S. Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd District.
Robb likened North to a ``slick job applicant that walks into your office with shiny shoes, good looks and knows all the answers.
``But before you hire him, check his references,'' said Robb, noting that many whom North once served in the White House, including President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, have publicly questioned North's honesty.
Coleman made stops in Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Bedford Wednesday, confronted at every step by reporters asking whether he thought he had a chance to be more than a spoiler in the three-way race.
Voters ``do not have to accept the lesser of two evils,'' he said in Charlottesville. ``With one vote, you can say, `No to North, no to Robb and slow down, Clinton.' '' MEMO: The Associated Press and staff writer Warren Fiske contributed to this
story.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA CANDIDATE by CNB