Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 3, 1993 TAG: 9311030160
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Brian Kelley
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
8 of 17 precincts reporting.
Shuler (D) 2 757 57 percent) Nick Rush (R) 2 071 (43 percent)
Voters said hometown ties and issues, not attack ads, helped them make their minds up in the 12th District House race.
The election to succeed House veteran Joan Munford, D-Blacksburg, was still too close to call by 9:30 p.m. Tuesday even though Democratic candidate Jim Shuler had taken an early lead over his opponent, Republican Nick Rush.
In interviews earlier in the day at Christiansburg and Blacksburg precincts, voters cited Rush's earnestness as his major attribute; Shuler's was his reasoned approach to politics.
Many voters also cited a personal connection to one candidate or the other: Shuler, 49, through his 20-year Blacksburg veterinary practice; Rush, 25, through his days growing up in Christiansburg.
Voters Jim and Vera Keeble liked Shuler's ideas. "He seemed to have a reasonable approach to our problems, not so much cliches," Vera Keeble said.
But several Christiansburg voters said they favored Rush because he seemed closer to the people.
"He's down to earth," said Richard Aldridge. "His appeal is a common appeal."
"I think we need more people of his caliber in there that aren't [of] the wealthy class," said one woman who declined to give her name. "I admire this Rush."
Juding from exit interviews, education seemed to pay off for Shuler. Several voters cited him as more likely to work in support all levels of education, including higher education.
Jennifer Bryant, a second-grade teacher in Montgomery County, said she voted for Shuler after watching Rush's votes on the Board of Supervisors, not all of which she thought favored education.
But for Terry Prince, interviewed while carrying 5-month-old Charles outside a Christiansburg-area precinct, a door-to-door visit by Rush was important.
"He came by our home and seemed to have a good grasp on things," Prince said.
Shuler, with one notable exception, made a point of sticking to the high road during his campaign against Rush, a member of the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors.
Shuler's one embarrassing campaign moment occurred when a flier attacking Rush made its way to Christiansburg and Giles County mailboxes last week due to a mistake by state Democratic officials.
But the recent rhetorical battles, with each candidate accusing the other of distortions and unfair ads, seemed to matter little at the voting machines.
Only a handful of voters mentioned the fliers that went back and forth in the waning weeks of the campaign. If they did mention negative campaigning, it usually was in reference to the statewide races.
The 12th District race hinged on this formula: win your home base, whether it be Blacksburg or Christiansburg, then make inroads in the opponent's back yard.
Shuler's strategy focused on taking the four precincts in eastern Giles County, making a strong showing in Blacksburg and at least making a decent bid in the four Christiansburg-area precincts.
by CNB