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

DATE: TUESDAY, August 24, 1993                   TAG: 9308240301
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

ALLEN `FAMILY' REMARK BLASTED

Republican gubernatorial candidate George Allen said Monday that being a husband and father of two makes him more sensitive to family issues than is Democratic opponent Mary Sue Terry, who is childless and has never been married.

"I think it makes me more understanding of the challenges facing the families of Virginia, having had to face these challenges along with them," Allen said.

Terry's campaign sought to capitalize on the comment, accusing Allen of trying to focus on Terry's personal life instead of issues. Her aides made three unsolicited phone calls to a reporter to press the attack.

"By raising the marital status issue today, George Allen has demonstrated the bankruptcy of ideas in his campaign," said Jay Marlin, a spokesman for Terry. "George Allen should stick to issues that are of importance to voters."

Added campaign consultant Tom King: "This is really below the belt. They [Allen's campaign] ought to grow up."

Jay Timmons, a spokesman for Allen, said later that the comments had been blown out of proportion. He said Allen's campaign has no intention of focusing on Terry's marital status.

The controversy began Monday as Allen was being introduced to a group of about 500 Republicans at a fund-raising luncheon. Campaign treasurer James C. Wheat III ticked off a list of Allen attributes and asked the audience to consider the differences between Allen and Terry on each.

Wheat then characterized Allen as "a family man who understands what it is like to have children."

After the luncheon, which featured a speech by U.S. Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kansas, Wheat said the family status of the two candidates "is one attribute people should focus on."

"Anyone who has a child can relate to what's going on out there more than someone who doesn't," he added.

Terry said the comments by Allen and Wheat are "a sad commentary" on the GOP campaign. She said her family status should not be an issue "unless they've changed the qualifications to be governor of Virginia."

Keywords:
POLITICS

by CNB