Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 30, 1994 TAG: 9406300113
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Speaking to 70 Montgomery County Republicans, the 32-year-old Tazewell County mathematician reported on two days of meetings this week with House GOP leaders in Washington, D.C., to plot strategy and raise money.
Fast, who has never held elected office, is taking on six-term incumbent Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, who earlier this month chided the political newcomer for running a negative campaign. The 9th District includes the New River Valley and all of Southwest Virginia south of Craig and west of Carroll counties.
"It's an exciting year," Fast told the Republicans gathered for their monthly luncheon. "You can sense the change on [Capitol] Hill."
Fast said he'd met Monday and Tuesday with GOP Whip Newt Gingrich of Georgia and Rep. Richard K. Armey, R-Texas, among other high-profile House Republicans.
Democrats on Capitol Hill, smarting from criticism of Clinton and the possible stumbling of the health care reform effort, are on the defensive, county Republican Committee Chairman Pat Cupp said.
With those factors in mind, the GOP leadership, Fast said, hopes to gain control of the Senate and make significant strides in the House.
"We're charged up, we're ready to go, with your support next fall," Fast said.
Cupp said the three Republican candidates for statewide office last fall took 68 percent to 55 percent of the vote in the 9th District. With that amount of Republican support and early fund raising of $75,000 so far, Fast will "give ol' Rick a battle," Cupp said.
In brief remarks, Fast stuck to his major campaign themes: a call for tax cuts for families, market-based reform in the health care system and support for gun rights. Even more important though, is criticism of Clinton and linkage of Boucher to him, particularly on last year's deficit reduction measure.
"People know Rick Boucher's a big Clinton supporter," Fast said in an interview before the lunch. "We believe the people are ready for a change this year."
Still, Fast conceded his opponent, who easily defeated Radford and Blacksburg clothier Gary Weddle two years ago, holds a major advantage. "Of course, the system is stacked for incumbents and against challengers," Fast said. "We're not going to match Rick Boucher's spending. ... We've got to run a grass-roots campaign."
The first two campaign spending reports of the year showed Boucher, as in past years, with a walloping financial advantage over his Republican opponent.
As of April 24, Fast had raised $28,572 and spent $18,855. He had $9,716 on hand. He reported no contributions from political action committees. Cupp said his remark about the $75,000 Fast has raised so far was an unofficial figure.
Boucher, in contrast, had $590,311 in his campaign fund as of May 22, most of it carried over from last year. He'd raised $204,223 this year and spent $90,318. He reported raising $107,000 from PACs this year.
The candidates will file updated campaign spending reports in mid-July. The most recent reports were a month apart because they reflect the different dates of the respective political party conventions.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB