Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, October 4, 1993                   TAG: 9310040094
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

DOWN TO THE WIRE POLL: STATE RACES TOO CLOSE TO CALL

In the race for governor, Democrat Mary Sue Terry had a statistically insignificant 48 percent to 46 percent advantage over Republican George Allen, the Washington Post poll found.

Don Beyer, the Democratic incumbent, and Mike Farris, a Republican, were deadlocked in the contest for lieutenant governor, with each claiming 39 percent of the likely vote.

In the race for attorney general, Democrat Bill Dolan also was in a tie with Republican Jim Gilmore. Each had 37 percent.

A total of 801 registered voters were interviewed Sept. 24-28 for the survey, including 588 voters who said they were certain to cast ballots on Nov. 2.

The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points, 4 percentage points for those likely voters interviewed.

Three out of four voters questioned said they want the next governor to steer the state in a new direction.

Three of four voters surveyed said Gov. Douglas Wilder, a Democrat, has accomplished little or nothing as governor.

Concerns about the economy, crime and public schools topped the list of problems voters want the next governor to solve.

Among those who listed the economy as their top voting concern, 55 percent backed Terry and 37 percent favored Allen, a former congressman and state legislator.

Terry led Allen 49 percent to 42 percent among voters who listed crime as their top voting issue. Terry also had an edge among voters who are most concerned about public education - 52 percent compared with 41 percent for Allen.

The GOP nominee runs particularly well with white voters; Allen leads Terry by 52 percent to 41 percent among whites. Terry is supported by nine out of 10 blacks.

Keywords:
POLITICS