Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 27, 1993 TAG: 9310270192
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BY ROB EURE AND BONNIE V. WINSTON STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: WARRENTON LENGTH: Medium
"She acted like she'd been anointed," Allen said of Terry's summer of relative inactivity. While he crossed the state in a recreational vehicle, Democrats approached the governor's race with the attitude, " `We've been in power, we've got all this money.' . . . they didn't think they needed any issues," Allen said.
Allen, who argues that the lapse allowed him to overcome a summertime deficit to now lead the race, said he thinks Terry doesn't enjoy campaigning. "She'd rather just go out and pay tribute to the powers that be. . . . I think they are arrogant."
Allen spent a busy but relaxed day at retail politicking Tuesday as Terry pushed her platform for public education and searched for votes in Charlottesville and the traditionally Republican Shenandoah Valley.
At morning appearances outside elementary schools in Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, Terry denounced Allen's backing of vouchers for private school attendance.
If Allen is elected and parents get tax breaks to send their children to private schools, it would "spell the beginning of the end of public education as we know it," Terry said.
She accused Allen and Mike Farris, the GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, of being "beholden" to Virginia Beach religious broadcaster Pat Robertson.
Robertson has said he wouldn't care if public schools were abolished, Terry noted. "He said we wouldn't miss them," she said.
Farris, who was treasurer of Robertson's exploratory committee for president in 1986, is a lobbyist-lawyer for a national home-schooling organization.
"George Allen, Pat Robertson, Mike Farris and the radical right would use our tax dollars to build and fund their private academies at the expense of the 1 million children who rely on our public schools in Virginia," Terry said. "I am the only candidate for governor who has made an ironclad commitment to getting our children the best education we can, regardless of where they live."
Allen, who has called for local option decisions on private school vouchers, refused Monday to say whether he personally favors them.
With polls suddenly showing her behind, Terry also sought Tuesday to buck up her supporters. "This is a very volatile race," she told reporters during an afternoon stop at a Northern Virginia subway stop under construction.
"People look at the polls and forget where the undecideds are. I feel those voters are going to come home. And when they do, they'll come home to Mary Sue Terry," she said.
Allen spent Tuesday stumping in a recreational vehicle from Richmond to Charlottesville to Warrenton.
In his hometown, Charlottesville, Allen found time for a haircut and paid his usual $8, plus a $1 tip to owner Ken Staples. "He's a little tight, you know," Staples said.
Usually Democratic, Charlottesville is Allen's town this fall. In the parking lot of Big Jim's - a restaurant Allen favors for its big $3.95 burger and fries - the campaign van for reporters backed into another vehicle.
Out jumped Hunter Craig, a homebuilder. "It's OK," he said, realizing the van was attached to the campaign. "I'll pay for the damages to your van if it'll help. I'll do anything to help get that man elected."
Allen also stopped by the Our Lady of Peace retirement home. Among the residents he met was Tipton Snabely, a retired economics professor at the University of Virginia who will turn 103 a few days after the election.
Allen inquired about how Snabely had passed the century mark. Snabely peered up. "Are you here waiting for Allen, too?" he asked
"I am Allen," the candidate answered.
Keywords:
POLITICS
Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.