THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 14, 1995 TAG: 9507140455
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Dozens of radio stations nationwide soon will begin running free ads for a Virginia state legislator to make up for on-air crowing by her opponent's father, talk show host G. Gordon Liddy.
Del. Linda ``Toddy'' Puller, D-Fairfax, said Thursday that about 30 stations have agreed to give her the free spots. She is opposed for re-election by Liddy's daughter, Republican Alexandra Liddy Bourne.
Federal Communications Commission regulations prohibit broadcasters from using the airwaves to promote one candidate over another. Liddy has talked about his daughter's campaign on the air several times and had her as his guest.
Puller, the widow of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lewis B. Puller Jr., said her lawyer has contacted about 200 stations that carry Liddy's syndicated talk show. She said about 30 have agreed to give her between 6 1/2 and 13 minutes of air time. Some stations have not responded, and the lawyer is negotiating with others.
``I don't believe anybody has outright refused,'' Puller said. ``A few have written back and suggested Liddy's program was a bona fide news program. It just can't possibly be thought of that way. That's what my attorney is negotiating.''
Neither Liddy nor Bourne immediately returned phone messages left on their home answering machines. Bourne does not have a campaign office, and Liddy was not at Northern Virginia radio station WJFK, where his show is produced, on Thursday afternoon.
Puller said she is sending out 30-second and 60-second spots. In both, she identifies herself as a Virginia legislator and accuses Liddy, a Watergate co-conspirator, of soliciting money for his daughter's campaign.
``Gordon Liddy expects to raise a lot of money for his daughter,'' Puller says in the longer ad. ``I need your help to counter that. If you can, please send a contribution to my campaign.''
She closes by giving her campaign address.
Puller said she has asked the radio stations to run the ads any time during the day except during Liddy's show.
She said she doesn't expect the ads to generate much out-of-state cash for her campaign. It would be unrealistic to believe the ads come anywhere near leveling the playing field, she said.
``Liddy is so well-known, whether it is for good or bad, and he has a real following on the radio - devoted people who agree with his extreme views,'' she said. by CNB