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

DATE: TUESDAY, July 26, 1994                   TAG: 9407260069
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

LETTERS-TO-THE EDITOR KIT HELPS FANS DEFEND NORTH

The kit suggests supporters start a letter-writing campaign and includes specific examples of what to write in response to assertions about North's opponents.

``Oliver North needs you to help him fight the tremendous bias against him in the media,'' reads an introduction in the kit.

Writers are told to sign their names, attach a return address and mail or fax the letters to editors of their local newspapers.

The kit was distributed last week at a private meeting in the Richmond area for prospective campaign workers. The Richmond Times-Dispatch obtained a copy and published the excerpts in its Sunday editions.

Mark Merritt, North's deputy campaign manager, described the kit as standard political fare.

``We are giving our volunteers the tools to engage in a political campaign,'' he said.

Sentences the kit suggests include:

n``Marshall Coleman is a flip-flopper who has proven time and time again that he will do anything to get elected.''

n``Can anyone name one or two things that Chuck Robb has done in the U.S. Senate?''

n``George Allen is now having to clean up the mess made by Doug Wilder.''

n``Oliver North is the only candidate that will fight for change in the U.S. Senate.''

Letter-writers are asked to forward copies to the North campaign.

Keywords:
POLITICS