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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 16, 1993                   TAG: 9306160176
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C5   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

POLL SHOWS TERRY HAS 18-POINT LEAD OVER GOP'S ALLEN

The poll, by Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research Inc., gives Terry an 18-percentage-point advantage, 49-31. It showed 20 percent undecided.

Despite Terry's lead, Allen's campaign called the results encouraging. Allen emerged from a spirited nomination fight this month, but has still managed to close the gap since a Mason-Dixon poll in May, said Jay Timmons, Allen's spokesman. Allen was behind Terry by 29 points then.

"These numbers and other recent polls prove this race will be highly competitive," Timmons said. "The most encouraging news, though, is that after seven years as attorney general, which makes her practically an incumbent, she is under 50 percent. That makes her highly vulnerable."

Terry's campaign was confident that it is in command of the contest.

"These numbers are in keeping with what we've seen publicly and privately," said her campaign consultant, Tom King. "They show that Mary Sue is well-positioned."

Political analysts say Allen has a daunting task ahead to catch up before the Nov. 2 election.

"That's what one would expect given Ms. Terry's tenure in office and the sort of stealth campaign the Republicans ran for nominations," said Virginia Commonwealth University political scientist Robert Holsworth.

Terry, who resigned as attorney general in January to run for governor, was recognized by 95 percent of those surveyed, and favorably by 48 percent. Of those polled, 71 percent recognized Allen, but just more than one-third of those said they view him neutrally.

"The numbers tell me there is a campaign to be crafted by George Allen," Holsworth said.

University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato said Allen faces an "enormous burden. Terry has more than $2 million in her campaign treasury, while Allen had to spend most of his money just to win the nomination.

"Those of us who watch politics can only hope that at some point it becomes an actual contest," Sabato said.

The poll also questioned voters on what issue they think is most important in the governor's race. Two subjects registered strongly: the economy, 31 percent, and education, 21 percent.

Twelve percent said taxes and government spending are most important and 11 percent mentioned leadership and personal qualities. Crime, health care, transportation, gun control and the environment each were listed by fewer than 10 percent.

In contrast to the governor's race, where the 20 percent undecided is a fairly small number this early in the campaign, results in the races for lieutenant governor and attorney general showed campaigns much more wide open.

Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, a Democrat, led Republican Michael Farris, 41 percent to 20 percent. But voters don't know either man well and 39 percent say they are undecided. The candidates for attorney general are unknown to two-thirds of the voters. Democrat Bill Dolan led Republican Jim Gilmore 28 percent to 21 percent with 51 percent undecided.

The sample of 825 likely voters was taken last Tuesday through Thursday by the Maryland-based political and media polling firm. It has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

Keywords:
POLITICS

Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.