Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 18, 1993 TAG: 9307180132
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MCLEAN LENGTH: Medium
More than 300 guests braced for fireworks that never detonated between the two political rivals in their first meeting since Wilder announced he would try to unseat Robb in 1994.
"As far as I know, everything was very peaceful," Robb told The Washington Post afterward. "I greeted him warmly and asked him if he wanted to say a few words."
The event was the first joint fund-raiser for this fall's state Democratic ticket of Mary Sue Terry for governor, Don Beyer for lieutenant governor and Bill Dolan for attorney general. But the anticipated Robb-Wilder encounter was the main attraction.
Wilder showed up just as the party was ending, and some guests waiting outside to have their cars brought around followed him back inside to watch.
Robb asked state Sen. Joseph Gartlan, D-Fairfax, to introduce Wilder.
"These moments are given to so few," Gartlan said. "It's my honor - and my duty - to introduce his excellency, the governor of the commonwealth of Virginia."
In brief remarks to the crowd, Wilder stressed teamwork and concentrating on this fall's campaigns.
He also acknowledged the astonishment surrounding his decision to attend an event at the home of a man he has said is unfit to hold public office. "I never knew one little guy coming to a party could raise such concern," several guests quoted him as saying.
The governor later said there was no reason not to attend and took credit for helping ticket sales. "People run against each other every day," he said. "They don't stop speaking to each other."
Naturally, the 1994 primary battle dominated cocktail conversation, and at one point, some Democrats glanced over at Robb's swimming pool.
"We'll see which one can walk on water and give him the nomination," one guest said.
"But," another said, "they both might sink."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB