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

DATE: TUESDAY, October 26, 1993                   TAG: 9310260161
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

ALLEN TAKES IN MORE CASH THAN TERRY AFTER POLLS SHIFT

There's cash as well as votes in the tailwind that's pushed Republican George Allen in public opinion surveys this month; his surging campaign raised almost $2 for every $1 collected by Democrat Mary Sue Terry in the first three weeks of October.

Allen reported raising $1.2 million from Oct. 1 to Oct. 20, compared with Terry's $688,000, in papers filed Monday with the State Board of Elections.

In effect, Terry's once formidable advantage in fund raising has evaporated, along with her seemingly invincible lead in the polls. Terry's recent fund raising pushes her over the $6 million mark for the campaign, but the two candidates began the final 10 days with similar amounts of cash on hand: $322,000 for Allen to $340,000 for Terry.

The main reason for parity now is money spent on television advertising. Both sides poured cash into their air war in the past several weeks, but Terry bought time through the end of the campaign, according to campaign consultant Tom King.

Terry spent $1.7 million on television to Allen's $929,000 through Oct. 20.

"It was a decision over whether to keep $1 million in the bank or just spend it," King said. He said Terry may make additional purchases of television time, but nothing large.

Allen, on the other hand, still is buying and receiving large donations daily. Betsy Beamer, Allen's chief fund-raiser, said the campaign received $277,000 on Thursday and Friday - the first two days after the most recent reporting period closed.

Allen's press secretary, Ken Stroupe, said Allen will be able to keep up with Terry during the final week of the campaign.

"It's not a campaign about dollars and cents," Stroupe said. "I know the Terry campaign has tried to make it into that, but we're going to continue with our strategy."

From now to Election Day, each side must report large contributions daily but does not have to file another complete financial statement until a month after the voting.

The financial reports show that Allen's campaign has picked up momentum as he's surged ahead in polls. He has received nearly $500,000 from the Republican National Committee and traditional Republican donors continue to open their checkbooks to help his effort.

Among those giving late to Allen are some Virginia Military Institute alumni. Beamer estimated they have contributed more than $100,000 to Allen's campaign. Terry has said she has doubts about plans to keep VMI all-male by opening a similar program for women at Mary Baldwin College.

Among the high-profile VMI grads contributing to Allen are brothers Bruce and Floyd Gottwald of the Richmond-based Ethyl Corp. Each added $25,000 to Allen's campaign in October on top of already hefty contributions.

Despite the pace of money raising and spending, Terry and Allen are not even close to the record for gubernatorial contests. Terry has raised a little over $6 million to Allen's $4.1 million. In 1989, Gov. Douglas Wilder and Republican Marshall Coleman spent about $14.5 million between them.

In the other statewide races, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, a Democrat, reported raising a total of $1.6 million, including $376,000 in October. Republican Mike Farris did not release his totals Monday. Polls show Beyer with a comfortable lead over Farris.

In the attorney general's race, Republican Jim Gilmore, leading by a small margin in polls, reported total campaign contributions of $982,000, including $319,000 in October. He has $184,000 in the bank.

Democrat Bill Dolan has raised $1.34 million, including $164,000 in October, and has $72,000 left to spend.

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB