THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 26, 1994 TAG: 9409260071
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEC KLEIN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 93 lines
Prowling for votes in standard gray suit and red tie, the candidate offers a hand and smiles: ``Hi. I'm Marshall Coleman.''
A blind, elderly woman pauses and asks: ``Are you supposed to be famous?''
Not when you're 20 points down in the latest polls, as is J. Marshall Coleman, the last remaining independent candidate in Virginia's U.S. Senate race.
Less than seven weeks before the election, Coleman is still fighting to grab attention. ``I don't really know much about him,'' said a young woman who shook his hand in downtown Richmond.
Still, Coleman projects a sense of faith that belies his predicament.
``I can campaign and eat at the same time,'' he quips.
Coleman, however, has to do it mostly by himself: He doesn't have advance workers or a traveling entourage, and it's been more than a dozen years since he held statewide office as a Republican attorney general.
Yet it seems another matter - indeed, more encouraging - when Coleman walks the campaign trail, glad-handing with receptive, polite folks.
``Hey, how you doing?'' he calls out on the streets of downtown Richmond. ``Tell all your friends!''
``Marshall, glad to see you,'' a man says and waves.
``Nice to meet you, Marshall,'' a woman says, nodding.
``I've got two more voters here,'' Coleman says, spying down the street.
He isn't a backslapping politician, nor is he a stiff policy wonk. He approaches voters casually, but doesn't force the issue. Wit is his weapon.
``I'm preparing myself for leadership,'' he says in ordering a low-fat burger for lunch.
``I think he's very charming,'' says his waitress, Jennifer L. Layman.
The candidate has reason to be more hopeful in the wake of recent developments: The other independent candidate - former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder - has withdrawn from the contest, Coleman has launched his first radio commercials and there is a silver lining in the latest polls.
While his numbers have steadily dropped since June, voters consistently give him the lowest negative ratings. And many of them remain undecided.
But in an arena where perception often is reality, Coleman is at a disadvantage. When Republican nominee Oliver L. North works a crowd, adoring supporters line up for his autograph. When Democratic incumbent Sen. Charles S. Robb hits the campaign trail, most instantly recognize him.
Coleman's positions on defense (strong), crime (tough) and taxes (conservative) have not distinguished him from his opponents. And on the road, he can't match their celebrity draw. During a sidewalk press conference last week, only a few passers-by stopped to listen from a distance.
``I thought he was announcing he was dropping out of the race,'' said Robert D. Nelms, a Crestar Bank manager who watched the minor spectacle. ``I'm glad that he's in the race. I think we need more choices.''
Coleman is banking on it: ``The big issue here is not how you'd vote on a bill, but who you are.''
The message has apparently made some headway. ``I was a registered Republican, but I'm not crazy about Oliver North,'' said Joe Rehbein, toting a lunch box to work at the Reynolds Aluminum plant in Richmond. ``I have a problem with somebody claiming to be a Christian and lying to Congress.''
But Rehbein wouldn't say how he would vote. Coleman, though, did: ``I guarantee he'll vote for me,'' the candidate whispered after the two had a chat at the factory gate.
Others encountered on the trail are rooting for the long-shot candidate, even if they aren't sure they'll vote for him. ``I think he's very good, but he's got an uphill road, that's the trouble,'' said retiree Isabel Mackenzie.
``He needs to be more aggressive,'' added her bridge partner, Lucy Johnson.
That's already beginning to happen. Coleman, unleashing a pointed attack in a radio ad, tells listeners that Robb attended ``some pretty wild shindigs down the beach'' and that North was ``into lyin', destroyin' evidence, taking a few goodies on the side.''
More salvos are inevitable in early October when Coleman said he would begin airing television commercials. In the meantime, he continues to walk the campaign trail.
``I like being in the middle of things,'' Coleman said. ``But I will say this: Serving is better than campaigning.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo by PAUL AIKEN/
Less than seven weeks before the election, J. Marshall Coleman is
fighting to get the attention of voters, as he did on a recent day
in Richmond.
B\W photo by PAUL AIKEN/
Senate candidate J. Marshall Coleman coaxes a parking meter in
Richmond recently. With him are Howard Harris, left, of
Fredericksburg and Jim Shepard of Blacksburg.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE CANDIDATE by CNB