THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 15, 1994 TAG: 9407150588
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF AND WIRE REPORT
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Vice President Al Gore met with independent U.S. Senate candidate L. Douglas Wilder on Thursday to try to get the former Democratic governor to drop out of the race for the seat held by Charles S. Robb.
``My purpose in inviting my friend Doug Wilder to come for a visit was to tell him in person that I hope he will end up supporting the candidacy of Sen. Robb for re-election as I do,'' Gore said in a statement released by his office Thursday evening.
Gore and Wilder met for about 15 minutes in Gore's office and then rode in the vice president's limousine to the Capitol, where Gore had an appointment to give a speech. Despite the discussion, Wilder vowed to remain in the race.
``The vice president knows me pretty well. . . . I am a resolute person,'' Wilder told reporters. Now that his name is on the ballot, ``it is not going to come off'' for any reason, he said.
Wilder issued a campaign release saying the meeting marked the first time an independent Senate candidate had been invited to meet with the vice president. After that, Gore's office followed with its own statement on the meeting, making clear that it in no way meant the White House backed Wilder.
Democratic nominee Robb, for whom Gore and President Clinton have promised to campaign this fall, is being challenged by Republican nominee Oliver L. North and GOP-leaning independent J. Marshall Coleman, as well as by Wilder. The four-way contest already is 1994's most celebrated political race.
Democratic regulars worry that Wilder, the first and only African-American to be elected governor of any state, will siphon off black votes crucial to Robb's chances in the general election.
Wilder said most of his discussion with Gore was personal. ``He's a friend, we both stressed that.''
Both Wilder and a spokeswoman for Gore said there was no discussion of any conditions under which Wilder might withdraw. Political circles have been alive with speculation for months that the administration might offer Wilder an ambassadorship or other attractive federal appointment as an inducement to get him out of the contest.
Speaking to reporters outside the Dirksen Office Building, Wilder said he was amazed by continuing speculation that he will drop out of the Senate race.
``I would like very much for this to be put to an end so that everyone could understand that there aren't any circumstances at all under which I would not be a candidate, or under which I foresee my not being elected,'' he said.
Wilder said he told Gore that while he is running as an independent, he still considers himself a Democrat.
``I was concerned with the fact that Democrats who support me shouldn't be ostracized, not cast aside,'' Wilder said. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
``There aren't any circumstances at all under which I would not be a
candidate,'' L. Douglas Wilder said after he met with Vice President
Al Gore.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA CANDIDATES by CNB