A State of Instability $

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On the Democratic side of the race, voters have been treated to salacious accounts of Robb's behavior. While Governor (1982-86), Robb frequently spent weekends at Virginia Beach without his wife Lynda. He has since been haunted by tales of cocaine-scented parties attended by young women with few inhibitions. When Robb's Senate aides investigated the charges, they recorded their findings in private memorandums. The papers depict the Governor as having oral sex "with at least half a dozen women 20 to 25 years his junior at random times." His assistants also obtained information indicating that Robb had associated with "people who were heavy drug users and served federal prison sentences on . . . drug-related charges."

Robb vehemently denies use of drugs or even being present when others used them. But last month, preparing his formal campaign launch as the Washington Post was about to publish the staff's findings, Robb drafted a six-page statement aimed at stifling the issue. "For a period of time in Virginia Beach," he conceded, "I let my guard down, and when I did, I also let Lynda down. But with Lynda's forgiveness, and God's, I put that private chapter behind me." Some voters do not see it that way. In a recent poll the man once considered a prospect for national office got an "unfavorable" rating of 37%, vs. 35% "favorable."

Democrats fear there could be more revelations to come. "Their concern," says Professor Robert Holsworth of Virginia Commonwealth University, "is that the guy's a ticking bomb." Still, Robb faces weak opposition from three little-known challengers in his party's June primary. And the Clinton White House has signaled its preference for him. But even if none of his obscure challengers gathers steam, Robb is not assured of a clean shot in the general election. His longtime foe, former Governor Douglas Wilder, would like nothing better than to send Robb back to lawyering. Wilder has been grumbling that Virginians deserve a better choice than Robb vs. North. If they win their parties' nominations and Warner succeeds in inserting a conservative independent, Wilder may enter as a Democratic independent. With strong backing from black voters, Wilder could easily be the front runner by Labor Day. And then Virginians will have a really strange show to watch.