THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 31, 1994 TAG: 9410290175
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Candidate: Charles S. Robb
Title: "Country" (30 seconds, TV)
When: Started Wednesday
Words & pictures. Text: An announcer speaks: ``He's always been independent and put his country above party politics. When George Bush was president, he was one of a handful of Democrats who supported the president on a majority of his initiatives.
``He broke with fellow Democrats to support President Bush on Operation Desert Storm. On the Senate Budget Committee he stood up to the leadership of his own party and demanded more spending cuts. A fiscal conservative, he supports the Balanced Budget Amendment and the line item veto.
``Sen. Robb - a proven record of independence we can rely on.''
Video: A montage of black-and-white stills shows Robb in characteristic poses.
What's the message: The message appears to be that, although President Clinton campaigns for him, Robb might just as well be a Republican. In this ad, he is running headlong to the middle of the road. In effect, Robb is offering himself as an alternative to Coleman voters, traditional Republicans who can't stomach North but don't want to waste their vote on a man trailing in the polls.
Factual matters: Robb is a charter member of the conservative Democratic Leadership Council and has solid credentials as a new Democrat. He has taken far more moderate positions on crime, defense and budget matters than the old-fashioned, liberal wing of the party. While North often trumpets that Robb votes with Clinton, it is also true that Robb was among the top six Democratic supporters of President Bush.
KEYWORDS: SENATE RACE CAMPAIGN CANDIDATE ADVERTISING by CNB