ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: FRIDAY, June 4, 1993                   TAG: 9306040460
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG SCHNEIDER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


REPUBLICAN RUMBLE IN RICHMOND

Things aren't that complicated, unless you think about them...

\ Thirteen thousand Republicans at the Richmond Coliseum - is it a Lee Greenwood concert? A Charlton Heston charity gun show? The Gerald R. Ford Celebrity Indoor Golf Championship?

No, no, no. It's the State Republican Convention. The one where the Grand Old Party picks its lineup for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general.

And we're gonna 'splain it, nice and simple-like. In fact, if you don't understand how the Republican Convention works after this, loosen your collar and lie still on the floor. We'll send someone right over.

\ So: Way back in the winter, Republicans all over Virginia had meetings. Anybody who showed up could say, "I sure would like to go to the convention,"pay about $35 and get on the list of delegates.

The delegates will go stand up for their congressional district and prod some candidate on for glory. Each district gets a certain number of votes at the convention, based on average yearly rainfall divided by Republicans with lava lamps (or something).

So that lots of delegates can attend the convention (and, coincidentally, pay the registration fee), the Republicans will let every vote be divided up to five ways. So for every one vote, there can be five delegates. That's five paying delegates.

This is how they wind up with 13,000+ Republicans coming to cast something like 2,600 votes.

The delegates arrive today. They eat, they hear speeches, they enjoy hospitality. On Saturday they recover from hospitality, they hear speeches and they vote.

Whichever candidates get more than half the votes are the party's nominees. If, say, none of the governor guys gets 50 percent-plus-one, they'll vote over again. And over and over and over until every newspaper in Virginia has missed its deadline.

So that's basically it, unless they decide to change the rules and make it complicated. In which case, you're on your own.

\ This weekend's fight card

Conventional wisdom (CW) is provided by Bob Holsworth of Virginia Commonwealth University and Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia.

\ For Governor

George F. Allen: Charlottesville lawyer, former state delegate, former congressman, son of former Washington Redskins coach. Young (41), conservative (anti-abortion), wears cowboy boots. Status: frontrunner. CW: "He wins elections, [but] if he doesn't win [the nomination] on the first ballot, he's in trouble" - Holsworth. "Great personal campaigner, weak on some substance, big money problems" - Sabato.

Earle Williams: Rich Northern Virginian (built company and sold it for big bucks), never held elective office, Ross Perot with better manners/hair. Has run ferocious and brutal campaign. Status: scrappy challenger. CW: "Lots of support in the board rooms, much less on Main Street and in the churches" - Sabato. "Has yet to develop the kind of persona [to make] a lot of people consider him gubernatorial material" - Holsworth.

Clinton Miller: Longtime delegate from Shenandoah County, considered effective even by Democrats, lawyer, country & western singer. Low-budget campaigner. Status: longshot. CW: "Most engaging candidate they have . . . Plays a crowd like he plays the guitar. Only candidate for governor in the Encyclopedia of Rock 'n' Roll" - Holsworth. "Great guy but dead third . . . High on experience, high on substance, low on money" - Sabato.

LT. GOVERNOR

Mike Farris: National lobbyist for the home schooling movement; Northern Virginia lawyer; father of eight. Promises to involve thousands of home schoolers never before in politics. Status: frontrunner. CW: "The most interesting candidate in the race. Will draw the most attention because of his background . . . Easily stereotyped; that's his dilemma" - Holsworth. "Very attractive, personable candidate whose message is considered by many to be extreme. If he's nominated, the ticket will be painted hard right by the Democrats" - Sabato.

Bobbie Kilberg: Only woman running; former aide to presidents Nixon, Reagan and Bush; working feverishly to label opponent extremist. Status: Coming on strong. CW: "Waging a vigorous uphill campaign. Has made this race a debate about the future of the Republican Party" - Holsworth. "Represents opportunity to diversify the Republican ticket . . . Able to suggest just how far to the right the Republican Party in this state has moved: She's considered an unacceptable liberal, and she's supported by Barry Goldwater" - Sabato.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Jim Gilmore: Henrico County prosecutor; stiff and serious; doesn't just fight crime - hates criminals. Promises longer jail terms for more people. Status: early frontrunner. CW: "He's a tough, aggressive fighter, and nobody will ever outwork Jim Gilmore" - Holsworth. "Tough-on-crime policy position . . . enables him to not only run for attorney general but also to go after Mary Sue Terry . . . Very close race, will be decided at the convention" - Sabato.

Steve Agee: Longtime delegate from Salem; former divinity student who turned to the law; serious, not as stiff. Promises longer jail terms for more people. Status: gaining momentum. CW: "Has a network of people who respect him from working with him in the General Assembly around the state. A major advantage" - Holsworth. "A competent, able legislator who gives a good impression . . . Some Republicans are saying it's important to have a moderate on the ticket, [so] he's gained some ground" - Sabato.

\ Profiles of Lt. Governor and Attorney General candidates ran on B4.

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