Potts Seeks Inclusion In Virginia Debates

Rivals in Gubernatorial Race Divided

RICHMOND, June 17 -- With the state primaries behind them, the three candidates for governor in Virginia are engaged in their first fight of the general election campaign: Should independent H. Russell Potts Jr. be allowed into debates traditionally reserved for Democratic and Republican nominees?

Republican gubernatorial nominee Jerry W. Kilgore said this week that he would not support Potts's inclusion in any of the debates that he will participate in and that the forums should be reserved for candidates who "can actually win the election."

The campaign of Democratic nominee Timothy M. Kaine said it would welcome Potts's inclusion.

"We're happy to have him. . . . We don't have any objection to Russ Potts being there," said Kaine's press secretary, Delacey Skinner. But, she added, "participants don't get to make decisions on who participates in debates."

Potts said Friday that voters should have the chance to hear each candidate, no matter how unlikely the bid may be.

"It's Democracy 101," he said. "All Virginians are entitled to hear the views of all three candidates."

He points to 1994, when the Virginia Bar Association had a debate among then-Sen. Charles S. Robb (D), Republican nominee Oliver L. North and a pair of independents, J. Marshall Coleman and former governor L. Douglas Wilder.

"There's precedent many times in this country. There's precedent many times in Virginia, for goodness' sakes," said Potts, who submitted 24,000 signatures to the State Board of Elections supporting his candidacy last week.

Students of Virginia politics said Potts needs to be on the stage with both major-party candidates to appear viable and to attract contributors.

"Really, what it is, is the money. You need it immediately to keep going," said Toni-Michelle C. Travis, an associate professor of politics at George Mason University. "If he can't get that kind of exposure, then he's doomed."

Potts, the Republican state senator from Winchester, jumped into the race as an independent in February.

He has raised only a fraction of the money that Kilgore and Kaine have and has not been included in public polls released thus far.