I was there! it wasn’t just Coleman as he ran too and so did Robb and Wilder. You have to know that Nancy Reagan also went after North when he ran for senate. It hurt. It was a close election. Warner wanted Coleman. Many did.
The Virginia republican establishment was not behind North. I went to the debate at Hampden Sydney..the kids loved Ollie but the big time old names such as John Warner didnt.
Virginia had a good governor..George Allen.
Hate to be the barer of bad news to you but Goode will never be president.
I was also following the race probably more closely than the two in my own state and the one in MA. I felt at the time Col. North was too controversial and preferred Jim Miller in the primary. In hindsight, I was buying too much into the establishment mantra and it would take a few more years to become more informed on their true goals. Today, I wouldn’t have hesistated to back North and putting more balls-to-the-walls types in DC.
I’m aware of how ugly it got with the establishment sandbagging North. Warner pulled the same stunt with Mike Farris in the ‘93 Lt Governor’s race, who would’ve been an excellent Governor and successor to George Allen.
I also remember the 4-way race when Gov. Wilder got in as an Indy based on his visceral dislike for Robb, but the Dems were able to have a “Come to Jesus” meeting with Wilder to persuade him to get out. Another example of GOP establishment stupidity that it would rather lose to a Democrat than have a Conservative win.
I’m also under no fantasy that Congressman Goode can win a general election (though by demographics on ideology, he should). This is about having a choice that Conservatives don’t have to submit to a false set of options between a Marxist Democrat and a Socialist RINO. The message is aimed squarely at the GOP... telling them they learned nothing from 2008. McCain was the final straw. I and many others will not be catching a ride on the SS Titanic Willard.