Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993 TAG: 9309180126
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The survey of 501 likely voters, selected at random and interviewed by telephone Sept. 9 through Wednesday, showed Allen leading Terry 39 percent to 38 percent. Less than 1 percent said they would vote for independent Nancy Spannaus, and the rest were undecided.
The poll has a margin of error of 4.5 percent.
Less than one-third of those surveyed could correctly identify the positions taken by the candidates on several issues.
The race for attorney general also was a virtual tie. Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Gilmore, a Republican, had 31 percent while Democrat Bill Dolan of Arlington had 30 percent.
Lt. Gov. Don Beyer, a Democrat seeking a second term, led Loudoun County home-schooling advocate Mike Farris, the Republican nominee, by 35 percent to 31 percent.
Scott Keeter, a Virginia Commonwealth political scientist and director of the poll, said it appears the undecided voters will determine the outcome of the governor's race.
"The undecided as a group include a lot of voters with whom Mary Sue Terry had hoped to do well, including women and residents of Northern Virginia," he said.
"The fact that so many remain undecided indicates that she hasn't succeeded in making her case to them, but it might also provide her with some encouragement since these voters are a little closer to her on issues such as a five-day waiting period."
Terry, the former two-term attorney general, has made a waiting period for handgun purchases a central issue in her campaign.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB