A State of Instability $

The state of Virginia honors its traditions faithfully, preferring, in its genteel political combat, mediocrity over notoriety. But this year's Senate race, starring the wounded Democratic incumbent, Charles Robb, and his probable Republican challenger, Oliver North, of Iran-contra fame, competes with the soaps for sensationalism. Tales of sexual adventures and charges of mendacity were already staples when the subject of mental instability popped up last week. "This is the most bizarre race in the state's history," says Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia, an expert in ugly campaigns. "To have two scandal-drenched candidates is a breakdown of Virginia's norms."

James Miller, once Ronald Reagan's Budget Director, scrambling to overtake North in the fight for the Republican nomination, is willing to try anything to tar North as untrustworthy. Last week Miller made public voluminous personal records -- including medical and financial data -- while challenging North to do the same. That would remind voters that the former Marine officer was hospitalized 20 years ago for emotional stress. The ploy also revived rumors, which North denies, that he somehow expunged mention of that therapy from his Marine dossier before he joined Ronald Reagan's National Security Council staff.

Miller scored some points by reinforcing North's image as a shredder of documents and deceiver of Congress during the Iran-contra fiasco. But when a reporter asked Miller about his own mental health, he acknowledged a family history of mood disorders. His aides later said Miller consulted a psychiatrist after his father died. North was soon chortling that his opponent's "strategy of character assassination has backfired."

But far more damaging than any shot Miller has fired is the assault against North by party elders. Most adamantly opposed is John Warner, who along with some other Senate Republicans would rather not have the mercurial North as a colleague. North is so unfit to serve in Congress, Warner says, that a "Republican white knight" should enter the race as an independent if North gets the nomination. Warner and his colleagues also elicited a letter from Reagan, for whom North lied to Congress and shredded key documents, attacking North's account of Iran-contra -- particularly North's published assertion, in 1991, that "President Reagan knew everything" about the scheme. "I am getting pretty steamed about ((North's)) statements," Reagan wrote. The steady assault on North's character has hurt his standing; a recent poll by Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research showed Miller tied with Robb among all voters, while North trailed the incumbent by 17 points.

But the Warner circle does not control Virginia's party apparatus, which will select the nominee at the state convention in June. North's militance appeals to the dominant, conservative wing of the state G.O.P., and his vigorous fund raising over three years for local Republican groups has won him many grateful friends who will serve as convention delegates.