Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 16, 1993 TAG: 9310160245
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Financial reports filed by both candidates on Friday indicated that though Terry remains $2.5 million ahead of Allen in overall fund raising, the Republican actually collected more than she did in July, August and September, coinciding with his surge in opinion polls.
According to the reports, Terry began the critical final month of the campaign with $1.7 million to spend, compared with Allen's $574,000.
In the campaign so far, Terry has raised $5.4 million to Allen's $2.9 million. But in the three months covered by the report, July 1 to Sept. 30, Allen outraised Terry, $1.7 million to $1.5 million.
Republicans, elated at the small victory in outraising Terry for the period, acknowledged they will likely trail her for the remainder of the campaign in spending.
But Betsy Beamer, Allen's chief fund-raiser, said "we'll have enough to go toe to toe" with Terry for the final two weeks.
Already the report is out of date. Allen reported spending $729,000 on television commercials in July, August and September. He has probably spent that much again since Oct. 1, Beamer said.
Allen scored in fund raising as he overcame a one-time 29-point deficit in the polls that led many regular contributors to count him out.
September was a huge month for Allen. Many of the GOP's traditional bankrollers, skeptical of Allen's chances in the spring and summer, turned in their checks.
At one fund-raiser in late September hosted by John Snow, chief executive of railroad giant CSX Corp., Allen collected nearly $300,000 from around 15 of Richmond's "Main Street" Republican donors.
The business interests in Virginia's capital are staging a resurgence for this election. In 1989, their money was overshadowed by millions poured into both campaigns by Northern Virginia developers.
But the growth explosion in the Washington suburbs went bust three years ago; this year, donations from those builders have dwindled to thousands in each campaign.
Allen's largest contributor is Richmond investor Lawrence Lewis, who has given Allen more than $100,000 in cash and services and loaned him another $100,000.
Aside from Lewis, however, the vast sums contributed by individuals to the contest between Gov. Douglas Wilder and Republican Marshall Coleman in 1989 are absent. The biggest donors in their respective campaigns gave $1 million combined. The biggest giver so far for Allen is the Republican National Committee, which has pumped $175,000 into his account.
Although Terry may have been slightly outpaced by Allen in the recent reporting period, she retained a commanding position heading into the final weeks of the campaign. Terry has said she expects to spend up to $7 million.
Terry's fund-raising operation has been persistent since late last year.
"When they have an event, I get 10 calls, three memos," said a lobbyist who runs one of the largest special-interest political action committee funds in the state. "They are responsive and grateful no matter how much I give. I get three thank-you notes."
In contrast, the donor said it was well into the fall before any request from Allen arrived. "We have money for him, we have just been waiting for a chance to give it."
Terry, who would become Virginia's first female governor, also has benefited from contributions from women and women's groups. EMILY'S List, a Washington-based fund-raising group for women candidates, has given Terry nearly $16,000 in cash and services, for example.
The candidates' stands on gun control showed up in the contribution lists. Terry received $10,000 from Handgun Control Inc., the Washington-based group headed by gun control advocate Sarah Brady. Terry has called for a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases.
Allen, who opposes gun control, got $40,000 from the National Rifle Association through several PACs early in the summer. In this report, the NRA PAC gave $5,000, and another $5,000 came from one of the largest gun stores on the East Coast, Green Top Sporting Goods in Hanover County.
Terry will likely seize on a $10,000 contribution Allen received from Virginia Beach Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson. Terry has linked Allen to Robertson in television commercials in her effort to paint Allen as a tool of the far right.
One corporate giver in the Richmond area said the state's money interests are likely to keep both Allen and Terry in cash through the end of the campaign.
"In the summer, Terry was so far ahead, it was easy to ignore Allen," he said. "But once he began to close, we gave him money, and so did everybody else. We have to get in to give ourselves access."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB