Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 9, 1994 TAG: 9411090114
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON, RICHARD FOSTER AND MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
With 75 percent of the vote counted, Payne polled 55 percent to challenger George Landrith's 45 percent. The Associated Press declared Payne the winner about 8:30 p.m.
Payne, with his family surrounding him, met a packed house of energized supporters at the Omni Hotel shortly after 9 p.m. Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "Takin' Care of Business" blared in the background.
"Is Nov. 8 a great day or what?," Payne quipped to begin his victory speech.
The 49-year-old Nelson County businessman quickly thanked his family for standing up to the pressures that built in the 5th District race.
Asked about being a successful Democratic incumbent on a night that Republicans controlled nationwide, Payne said: "I'll think about that in the morning. I'm feeling rather myopic right now."
Payne, who won his fourth full term in Congress, was successful in rallying voters in a race that turned progressively negative as it went along. Labeled over and over again as a "tax and spend Bill Clinton liberal" by Landrith, Payne used a blitz of television and radio advertising during the past two weeks to refute his opponent's claims.
A number of the ads pushed Payne's commitment to traditional family values and emphasized an endorsement from the National Rifle Association - a group synonomous with conservative values.
"Payne's media coverage was superior in the last few days of the campaign," said Virginia Tech political analyst Bob Denton. "The race turned negative, and negative ads have a short life span. Payne kept jabbing, but Landrith didn't counter the last few."
The NRA endorsement was also a key factor to many voters in the mostly rural 5th District.
Bedford County voter Earl Carter killed a deer Tuesday morning and arrived at the polls later attired in his camouflage hunting gear. Carter said he voted for Payne because of the NRA backing.
Dave Gibson, a Franklin County voter who supported Payne and Republican Senate candidate Oliver North, said: "At least ol' Ollie talks about God and country. And I just like L.F. Payne. I don't think he had as much negative advertising [as Landrith]."
Landrith's negative advertising tactics backfired, according to Annie Quattlebaum, who worked the polls for Payne in Albemarle County.
"I'm just glad there's been a lot of public reaction to the hateful campaign Landrith ran. I for one don't think hatred is a family value."
Carl Eggleston, the 5th District Democratic Party chairman, took Quattlebaum's comment a step farther as he watched Payne's winning margin flash on a television screen.
"Payne and Charles Robb represent the moderate voter who believes in family values and doing what's right. This district, being progressive but conservative, is not going to tolerate the mudslinging that the Republican's have done."
Just a few miles away at Landrith's Charlottesville headquarters, the mood was low key the entire night - an air of nervousness lingered.
The roughly 100 Republicans gathered at the Sheraton seemed to focus more on the Senate race than the Landrith-Payne battle. In fact, there was hardly any reaction when the Associated Press declared Payne the winner.
A feisty Landrith conceded the race about 10 p.m. upon returning from Danville, where he spent most of the evening.
He had few kind words for Payne.
"The message to L.F. Payne is to watch your step," Landrith said. "I strongly suspect L.F. Payne will do a better job of representing us in the future. He can rest assured whether it's me or someone else, there will be a strong challenge in 1996."
Landrith, 34, said he was pleased that he mounted a strong challenge when no one thought he had a chance.
"I've got to pay some bills, I'm going back to work tomorrow," he said.
Lydia Dabney, who organized Landrith's campaign in Danville, seemed to take the loss harder than most.
"It's unbelievable that people could be against someone like him [Landrith]," she said.
There was one glimmer of hope early in the evening when it was reported that Landrith carried Lunenburg and Patrick counties, as well as South Boston.
"Yes, yes, that's Mary Sue Terry territory," said 26-year-old Forrest Cooke.
Early Tuesday, Landrith predicted a 52 to 48 percent victory that never materialized.
Landrith was attempting to become the first Republican candidate elected in the 5th District in a century.
by CNB