THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 19, 1994 TAG: 9408190628
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEC KLEIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Republican U.S. Senate nominee Oliver L. North didn't travel much on Thursday, but got the most mileage out of the campaign by winning twin endorsements.
An alliance of prominent Republicans, conservative Democrats and independents threw its support to North, and the National Rifle Association announced it will endorse him today.
Former Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr. announced the creation of ``Virginians for Oliver North,'' a coalition touted as including former supporters of incumbent Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb.
``We are starting a movement. I won't call it a crusade, but I'm going to call it a spirited endeavor on behalf of (North),'' Godwin said. Godwin began his long political career as a Democrat but concluded as a Republican when he won a second term as governor in the 1970s.
After the announcement, North said Godwin's group would be ``the booster rocket'' that ``brings together an enormous conservative coalition.''
Virginians for North will not act as a fundraiser, but Godwin said that he and other members would campaign for the GOP nominee.
The coalition includes: Geline B. Williams, former Richmond mayor; J. Clifford Miller Jr., former chairman of the Third District Democratic Committee; E.B. Pendleton Jr., former Democratic state treasurer; Vincent J. Thomas, former Norfolk mayor; J. Harwood Cochrane, former chairman of state overnight transportation; R.D. McIlwaine III, former first assistant state attorney general; Robert B. Delano, former president of the American Farm Bureau Federation; and Maurice B. Rowe, former secretary of administration under Godwin.
``Main Street Republicans are supporting Ollie North,'' said campaign spokesman Mark Merritt.
Main Street gunowners are, as well. North will attend a rally tonight at the northern Virginia national headquarters of the NRA to accept that group's seal of approval.
The endorsements boost North during a lull in his motorhome-powered campaign around the state's blue highways. He has no other public appearances scheduled through the weekend.
Robb is even more low-key these days, stuck in the Senate as that body debates health care and the crime bill. That leaves the two independent challengers to hit the road:
Former Republican state attorney general J. Marshall Coleman was in Roanoke Thursday to announce that he supports the prison and parole reform being sought by the Allen administration. Coleman then continued down the pavement for a two-day tour of the far southwest section of the state.
Former Democratic governor L. Douglas Wilder has been driving all over the state, and will concentrate today on central Virginia. His one-car crusade will make its way from Fairfax down through Culpeper, Unionville, Orange and Gordonsville before winding up at the Louisa County Fair by evening.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE VIRGINIA CANDIDATES
ENDORSEMENTS by CNB