THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 10, 1994 TAG: 9411100642
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B01 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: GOLDSBORO LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Congressman Martin Lancaster says he has ``no regrets'' about his unsuccessful campaign to keep his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
``We felt that we ran a good campaign, and that we did it exactly as we planned it,'' the four-term congressman said. ``I would not do anything differently, either in terms of my service in Washington or how we ran this campaign. It's just one of those days that has not been good to Democrats throughout the country.''
One of the reasons he lost to Republican Walter B. Jones Jr. by more than 7,000 votes, Lancaster said Wednesday, was because of a national rejection of the top Democrat, President Clinton.
``Anti-Clinton and anti-incumbency'' feelings by voters did him in, Lancaster said.
``We've always known that that was a significant factor in the outcome of this race, and this certainly has demonstrated that,'' Lancaster said. ``It (the Republican sweep) has been a national phenomena. It is not surprising, because the polls were telling us all along that the president certainly had some baggage that the rest of us were having to carry.''
Lancaster said in a statement that he considers his four terms in Congress ``a great honor for the son of a tobacco farmer.''
``I sincerely appreciate the prayers and support I have received from thousands of friends across the district and the state throughout the years,'' Lancaster said. ``They have been generous giving of their time and resources. Friendships that will last a lifetime have been made.''
Lancaster also touched on his work on behalf of 3rd District constituents, calling his eight years on Capitol Hill ``a challenging and rewarding experience,'' and he turned those challenges over to his his victorious opponent.
``Protecting our tobacco economy and our military bases, building the Global TransPark, completing the infrastructure for economic growth in eastern North Carolina, and finding solutions to the health care, poverty, education, and inadequate jobs are now in the hands of my successor,'' Lancaster said. ``I wish him well.''
Lancaster issued the statement shortly after noon Wednesday, but earlier, just after midnight, his campaign team all but conceded defeat.
``We got washed away in a flood,'' Lancaster campaign coordinator Warren Hepler said with almost no emotion.
``It's just a tidal wave year in the Republican Party and that's part of politics. But these are battles, they're not a war. We'll have another one in two more years.
``I thought we ran a good campaign. We had a Noah's Ark. We had black and white, the disabled, the elderly, rich and poor, working for us. That's what democracy is supposed to be about.''
Lancaster said the negative ads used by both sides in the campaign had virtually no impact on the outcome.
``I think that was a reality in races everywhere,'' he said. ``I don't think that that in and of itself was any reason for the outcome.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff color photo by DREW C. WILSON
U.S. Rep. Martin Lancaster, who lost his re-election bid Tuesday,
comforts his daughter in the early morning hours Wednesday.
KEYWORDS: ELECTION RESULTS CONGRESSIONAL RACE
by CNB