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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 6, 1995                   TAG: 9506070015
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-10   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

LINKOUS REPORTS MORE CASH THAN SHULER BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER

Blacksburg Del. Jim Shuler showed renewed fund-raising vigor by Memorial Day, but still had less than half as much cash on hand as his Republican challenger, Larry Linkous, according to new campaign finance reports.

It's still too early in the campaign to draw any conclusions from the reports, but they do give another indication that Linkous will be a formidable challenger for Shuler, a first-term Democratic delegate.

For instance, by this time in 1993, Shuler's opponent had raised just $1,300. Shuler, a veterinarian, ended up outspending Rush in that race by a 4-to-1 margin.

This time around, it's the Republican who has the financial upper hand. Linkous, an auctioneer who owns a catering business, raised $8,033 over the past two months for a campaign total of $17,168. He'd spent $7,571 and had $9,597 in the bank.

Shuler raised $6,545 in April and May, for a total so far of $11,344. He's spent $7,099, most of that since April. He had $4,694 on hand. Shuler formally kicked off his campaign only May 23 and received his party's endorsement in a Monday mass meeting.

In the 39th District state Senate race, incumbent Democrat Madison Marye had raised $8,180 total, 85 percent of that since April 1. He'd spent $1,412 and had $6,868 in the bank as of May 31. Almost all of Marye's money has come from nine contributions of more than $100.

Pat Cupp, Marye's Republican challenger, had raised $12,024, including $7,312 in the last two months, evenly divided between 10 large contributions and 147 of less than $100. He'd spent $5,197 and had $6,827 on hand.

Meanwhile, the reports show that Roy Thorpe spent $4,694 in his unsuccessful Democratic nomination challenge to Commonwealth's Attorney Phil Keith. On Saturday, 58 percent of 839 Democrats voting in a mass meeting chose Keith to stand for re-election this fall against Republican Joey Showalter.

Thorpe loaned himself all but $275. Keith spent $1,383, reporting a $1,000 loan to himself.

Showalter raised $800 during the two-month reporting period and spent $726. Counting an earlier $100 donation, Showalter had $138 unspent.

Staff Writer Kathy Loan contributed information for this story.

by CNB