
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, November 28, 1993                   TAG: 9311280049
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

POWELL'S POLITICAL POTENTIAL HAS BOTH PARTIES PANTING

As Virginia political activists search for a knight in shining armor to rescue them from the current crop of blemished candidates for the U.S. Senate, some of the disaffected in both parties think they see the glint of polished brass on the horizon.

Their potential hero? Colin Powell.

The popular former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff retired recently with the sort of approval ratings that politicians only dream about. He has talked of seeking public office someday, and he bought a house for $1.3 million in a Washington suburb not long ago.

For those Virginia Democrats who are less than thrilled with the choice between Sen. Charles Robb and Gov. Douglas Wilder next year, and for Republicans who are wary of Iran-Contra figure Oliver North, Powell has the resume of a rescuer.

"In a way, this may be exactly who this is - for everybody," said state Sen. Jane Woods, R-Fairfax. "Whether one party or the other can corral him - and I certainly hope it would be the Republicans - he does just embody that sort of practical kind of reason, with strong principles, sort of this knight riding in from the hinterlands."

And why not?

Powell, like Robb, is schooled in the ways of Washington, but he is not known for having troubles in his personal life. Like North, he is a decorated military hero, but he apparently never diverted funds to guerrillas without telling Congress. And, like Wilder, he is an African American with an inspiring up-from-poverty story, without the political enemies and grudges to settle.

Powell could not be reached for comment. But according to his spokesman, talk about a Powell candidacy in Virginia political circles may be wishful thinking.

"He's said publicly a number of times that at this point in time he has no political aspirations, and that hasn't changed at all," said retired Col. William Smullen. "He's hard at work writing his memoirs, and he's giving some public speeches, but quite frankly that's a pretty full-time commitment."

However, Smullen hastened to add, employing a formula familiar to politicians who want to leave the doors open, "He's also said he's not going to rule anything in or out." And Powell has said he might be interested in elective office.

"After I retire and have had a chance to collect my wits and thoughts . . . I hope to do something in service of the nation in some capacity," he teased in a Sept. 28 speech. "Whether that's political or not remains to be seen."

Although many presume that Powell is a Republican, he has never said so publicly. Even Smullen professes ignorance of Powell's political affiliation.

"Nobody knows what party I belong to or may belong to," he said in the speech. "There's total confusion as to what my political philosophy might or might not be. This is the way it should be for all active-duty military officers."

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB