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

DATE: TUESDAY, October 26, 1993                   TAG: 9310260021
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WITH POLLS ON HIS SIDE, ALLEN LENDS A HAND TO HOUSE HOPEFULS

"To get our ideas through, I need allies; I need friends; I need folks who agree with our principles," Allen said Monday as he barnstormed across Western Virginia on behalf of House candidates.

The GOP candidate for governor, always in an upbeat mood, seemed especially buoyant as he talked up the prospect of doing something Virginia Republicans haven't done in this century.

"We have an opportunity to get a majority [in the House of Delegates]; this is unprecedented," Allen told supporters.

To pick up the 10 seats that stand between them and a majority, though, Republicans will have to knock off some high-ranking Democrats, and Allen had one of the highest-ranking in his sights Monday: House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County.

In Scott County, Allen was pushing Terry Kilgore, the GOP hopeful who wants to succeed retiring Democratic Del. Ford Quillen. In Lynchburg, he boosted Del. Steve Newman, who's in a tight re-election fight with Gil Cobbs, a retired teacher.

In between, Allen stopped by Vinton and spent an hour and a half shaking hands with shoppers at the Lake Drive Plaza Kroger and the lunch-hour crowd at McDonald's. There, as he stuck his head into cars in the drive-through lane, Allen urged his supporters to also cast a ballot for Bud Brumitt, Cranwell's Republican challenger.

Allen's decision to take time from his schedule to help Brumitt may have less to do with Brumitt's chances than with the influence of the Averill family in Republican circles: Vinton resident Trixie Averill is Allen's coordinator in Western Virginia; her daughter, Amy, is managing Brumitt's campaign.

Indeed, many Republicans concede that Brumitt, a retired salesman who moved to Virginia less than two years ago, is a long-shot candidate against the 20-year veteran Cranwell.

If Brummit wins, "it would be the upset of the year," said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke.

Nevertheless, Goodlatte insisted "it's certainly possible" Brumitt could win, especially if there's a Republican tide that lifts all boats on Nov. 2.

That's the kind of trend Allen - and Brumitt - were trying to stir up Monday.

Allen, speaking to supporters at the Vinton library, lathered on the praise. "Bud Brumitt will be an ally of mine. Bud Brumitt will be on the same page with me the first day," Allen said. "It's important to run together as a team, because we care about the same issues."

Cranwell was out of town, and a spokesman passed up a chance to comment on Allen's entrance into the House campaign.

But University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato said he wasn't surprised that Allen has singled out Cranwell's race as one to get involved in - even if Brumitt is considered a long-shot.

"Cranwell is not just another Democrat," Sabato said. "Eliminating Cranwell would eliminate one of the best strategists on the Democratic side. Cranwell's defeat would certainly make it much easier for Allen to get his programs passed, and the district may want to take that into account. But at the same time, the district would be losing an enormous amount of power and seniority if it replaced Cranwell."

As a result, Sabato said, the Cranwell-Brumitt race will be one of the most closely-watched House races in the state on election night. "Cranwell is the most powerful legislator in any kind of trouble," Sabato said. "This race will be an indication of whether the Republicans are just going to gain seats, or whether they're actually going to take over the House."

Keywords:
POLITICS