THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 7, 1994 TAG: 9411070072
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, MARGARET EDDS AND ALEC KLEIN, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
On Sunday, with 48 hours remaining in a tense U.S. Senate battle, it was a scene reminiscent of the OK Corral when Republican Oliver L. North and Senate Minority Leader Robert Dole bumped into Jesse Jackson at Norfolk International Airport.
Dole, who was flying around the state to bolster North's Senate bid, wasted no time getting to the point.
``I'm going to send you my record on civil rights, because you've got it all mixed up,'' Dole said sternly to Jackson. In line to become majority leader if Republicans gain control of the Senate, Dole told Jackson that ``when I take over, I'll give you a call.''
``Then I'll have to wait a long time for that call,'' replied Jackson, who came to town to urge black voters to support North's Democratic opponent - incumbent Charles S. Robb.
``You guys are going to be in Moorer's shape,'' Jackson quipped, referring to Michael Moorer, who lost the heavyweight boxing crown Saturday night.
As they parted company, a smiling North handed Jackson a handwritten note that said: ``Jesse, I want your vote. Oliver North.''
``I don't live in Virginia,'' Jackson replied. And as soon as the Republicans were out of sight, Jackson told reporters that he considers North and Dole to be racially divisive. ``They stand to tear us apart and they have not been subtle about this,'' he said. ``They never lifted a finger for South Africa or Haiti.''
Apart from the chance airport meeting, North's day went swimmingly. Accompanied by Dole and Gov. George F. Allen, North was met by cheering throngs at airport rallies in Washington, Norfolk and Richmond.
Dole said Virginia's election may determine whether Republicans gain enough seats on Tuesday to take control of the Senate. ``This is a big, big race,'' he said. ``If we can't do any better than the Democrats, you can toss us out. But give us four or six years to try.''
In an interview, North dismissed a poll in Sunday's editions of the Richmond Times-Dispatch that showed him trailing Robb by 8 percentage points. ``It's out of synch with every other poll and our own internal trackings,'' he said. Two other polls conducted for newspapers last week showed the race to be a dead heat.
Robb, campaigning in the far southwest, sounded as if he and Virginians were edging back from the brink of disaster.
North ``almost got away with it,'' Robb thundered as he hopscotched across the coal fields with United Mine Workers President Richard Trumka and a bevy of Democratic officeholders. ``Virginians are beginning to realize that this isn't just another election. The whole nation is watching to see if we can figure this guy out before it's too late,'' Robb said.
Robb was met by moderate-sized but enthusiastic crowds at rallies in Grundy, Richlands, Wise and Clintwood.
Robb described his opponent as someone who is charismatic, an effective communicator and who probably believes much of his own rhetoric. Someone like that ``should not be given public power unless we can be reasonably satisfied that they won't abuse it. Oliver North does not meet that particular test,'' he said.
Trumka was Robb's most enthusiastic cheerleader of the day, whipping up crowds by proclaiming that ``Ollie may belong in a federal institution all right, but it sure isn't the United States Senate.''
Robb also referred to Saturday's heavyweight boxing shocker: ``Although the analogy may not be perfect, I'm going to be the George Foreman of this particular round.''
The fight was the preferred metaphor for independent candidate J. Marshall Coleman as well.
The six-foot-three-inch, 185-pound longshot candidate sparred with voters Sunday at an arts and crafts show at the State Fairgrounds in Richmond, selling himself as the untarnished alternative to Robb and North.
``Foreman won last night. I think that's a sign,'' Coleman told a Charlottesville woman browsing through the aisles.
Foreman, the underdog boxer, used a powerful right to beat his youthful opponent. Coleman said his secret weapon is the people.
``It's the voters who want to annoy the pundits,'' he said. ``First we've got to win one for the Gipper. Nothing would make Ronald Reagan happier than to see Oliver North and Chuck Robb defeated.''
Many voters seemed to agree. ``I have to say this,'' said vendor Lee McWhorter of Luray. ``If Virginia goes North, Virginia's going south.'' ILLUSTRATION: ASSOCIATED PRESS photo
Republican Senate candidate Oliver North, center, holds a news
conference at Norfolk's airport Sunday with Senate Minority Leader
Robert Dole, left, and Virginia Gov. George Allen, right.
KEYWORDS: CANDIDATE U.S. SENATE RACE
by CNB