ALLEN VOWS TO STAY IN GOVERNOR'S RACE

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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 17, 1993                   TAG: 9302170259
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium
ALLEN VOWS TO STAY IN GOVERNOR'S RACE
Republican gubernatorial front-runner George Allen - defending against stepped-up charges from his opponents that he is too inexperienced and his political base too narrow to win in November - said Tuesday he is in the governor's contest for good.
Responding to reports that some of the party's financial angels want him to step down to run instead for attorney general, Allen told a debate audience, "I have been and will continue to fight to be your candidate for governor."
About 20 major GOP donors in Richmond listened to the three candidates last week and all but three preferred either retired Northern Virginia businessman Earle Williams or Del. Clinton Miller of Woodstock to Allen, a former congressman and delegate from Charlottesville.
According to several sources, the group suggested that party Chairman Patrick McSweeney ask if Miller would run for lieutenant governor and Allen for attorney general.
"For people to actually think that the Republican nomination would be decided by a dozen people is absolutely absurd," Allen said.
Williams also pledged to stay in the race for governor. Miller was more circumspect.
"I intend to continue running for governor," he said, adding that "if the people of Virginia were to raise a clamor" for him to seek a lesser office, he might consider it.
Allen said he is unconcerned with the lack of enthusiasm from the Richmond group. "We have dozens and dozens of business leaders" supporting him, he said.
Tuesday's debate was the last scheduled before local party caucuses begin Feb. 27.
"George Allen cannot be elected" in November, Williams argued, citing his rival's pledge to veto any tax increases, his stand against gun-control proposals and his "multiple positions on abortion."
Miller charged several times that Allen is too inexperienced to lead the state.
The candidates suggested ways of ensuring that college is affordable for Virginians.
Allen complained that $160 million in Pell grants is being used to educate prison inmates.
In addition to taking the grants away from inmates, Allen said, the state should make sure the colleges are "as lean as possible. There is waste in higher education."
Miller said the state should force its public colleges to admit more state residents.
Williams said state officials should quit taking money from higher education for other purposes while raising tuition to keep the universities afloat.
The Associated Press supplied information for this story.
Keywords:
POLITICS

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB