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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 22, 1994                   TAG: 9411220132
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG                                 LENGTH: Short

ALLEN'S ELECTION AN OMEN, REPUBLICAN LEADERS SAY

The election of Gov. George Allen a year ago in Virginia was a signal of good things to come for the GOP, but no one imagined how good, national Republican leaders said Monday.

The November 1993 election, in which Allen won 58 percent of the vote over Democrat Mary Sue Terry, ``was a forerunner of what was to come,'' said Maine Gov. John McKernan.

``Another great revolution started here in Virginia last year, here and in New Jersey,'' said Haley Barbour, chairman of the Republican National Committee, at the opening session of the Republican Governors Conference.

Allen's stature within his party, like his party's stature in national politics, clearly is rising as he serves as host to 29 GOP governors and governors-elect at a three-day meeting in Colonial Williamsburg.

In his welcoming remarks, Allen sounded something like a birthday celebrant at a surprise party. He looked down the two rows of tables where the VIP guests were seated and marveled at ``all these unexpected but very pleasing victories.''

Allen called the governors ``leaders of the new revolutionary army'' who will restore the influence of the states.

``We must lead the fight to restore the balance between the states and the federal government,'' Allen said.

by CNB