Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 22, 1993 TAG: 9310220241
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ROB EURE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Wilder said his accomplishments, such as refusing to raise taxes during a recession, anti-crime efforts and welfare reform, could serve as tonic for Terry's ailing campaign, if she would take it.
"You can run on a positive record of accomplishment," Wilder said after a speech to housing officials. "It's there, laying like gold nuggets to be picked up."
Wilder also told reporters after his speech that if he were running for re-election today, "I'd beat George Allen."
Obviously chafing at the distance that Terry has kept from him, Wilder repeatedly asked, "Is there any indication it has helped?"
Terry, who once held a 29-percentage-point lead over Republican George Allen in public opinion polls, trails by seven points in a survey taken last week. Wilder repeated pledges to help Terry in any way she asks, but said he has yet to hear a request from her campaign.
Instead, Wilder has summoned leading Democrats to an emergency strategy meeting at the executive mansion this afternoon.
Attending the meeting along with Wilder and his longtime political aide Paul Goldman will be Terry's senior strategist, Tom King, and campaign manager Pam Womack.
"All throughout this campaign we have pushed that this is one of the best managed states in the country and the remarkable fiscal management of the state by the governor," King said. "We've tried to build on that by not overpromising."
Wilder said Terry should tout improvements in education, transportation and financial management under the past three Democratic governors.
"I don't duck through the woods saying I'm not a Democrat," Wilder said.
He even suggested Terry should proudly include U.S. Sen. Charles Robb's accomplishments when he was governor. "Where was education when Robb came in? Down on the ground," Wilder said.
Wilder gave a strong defense of his tenure Thursday in a speech to the Governor's Conference on Housing.
Allen was the target of criticism in those prepared remarks.
"I read where it was said that this administration is tax-and-spend. All I've heard from critics for 3 1/2 years is that I haven't spent, but cut, and refused to raise taxes as some members of the legislature have proposed," Wilder said.
Wilder said he heard no criticism of his management of the budget when he invited Allen to review his budgeting and revenue forecasts, which predict a $500 million shortfall for the next two years.
"But now here we are, less than two weeks from election, and I hear promises of hundreds of millions of dollars being spent. The public still asks where the money's coming from," Wilder said.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB