Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030067
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAN CASEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Joined by Edwards and three local veteran House Democrats, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer used the morning event outside Patrick Henry High School to hammer on a well-worn 1995 Democratic campaign theme:
"Education is the key to it all," Beyer said. "Job opportunities, prison populations, Virginia's ability to attract and retain jobs. We're here today for John Edwards, a strong candidate for the state Senate, who would be an advocate for you in Richmond."
The morning appearance by the lieutenant governor - the likely Democratic contender in the 1997 governor's race - came as Democrats and Republicans throughout the valley swung into a late-stage campaign blitz.
A busload of Republican Party leaders was in the Roanoke Valley on Thursday to campaign for GOP candidates; Gov. George Allen will swing through Roanoke on their behalf today.
Beyer, who is stumping Western Virginia for a number of Democrats, will be in Roanoke again on Sunday for Edwards. U.S. Sen. Charles Robb, meanwhile, was rallying voters on behalf of Democrats in eastern Virginia.
Thursday's event was billed as a rally for Roanoke Valley Democrats. But save a handful of reporters, television cameras and few students milling around between classes, it lacked any kind of crowd.
While House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County; and Dels. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum and Victor Thomas, both D-Roanoke were also there, Edwards' uphill battle to unseat Republican Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, was the main attraction.
Acting as if their re-elections are already secure, Cranwell, Woodrum and Thomas never mentioned their current races against Republicans Trixie Averill, Newell Falkinburg and Jeff Artis.
Cranwell called Edwards "a man of vision." Woodrum quipped that candidates like Edwards "come along once in a lifetime."
Edwards himself urged voters to reject negative campaigning by Bell, which he said has distorted his positions on health care reforms, education, law enforcement and other issues.
"I trust the voters to see through the smog, to see through the fog," Edwards said.
Beyer, meanwhile, blamed Allen for failed attempts to cut education funding both in public schools and state colleges and for trying unsuccessfully to divert state money from programs that help seniors, such as Meals on Wheels.
"This election is about our future, and what we want for our commonwealth - how much we care about people, how much we care about our economy, how much we care about the kinds of opportunities we have," the lieutenant governor said.
"We're in a life or death fight for our children," Beyer said. "... if John Edwards isn't representing you in Richmond, you stand a bigger chance of losing this Head Start program, or losing money for schools, or losing Meals on Wheels - that's the choice you get to make."
Bell Campaign Manager James Faulkner said after the event that the Democrats' message was the same stuff they've been dishing out ever since Allen was elected governor by a wide margin in 1993.
"Don Beyer and his party have been part of the Democratic majority for 125 years," Faulkner said. "They've had plenty of time to fix the problems that they perceive Virginia has - and they've failed. Virginians want positive, honest change, and that's what the Republicans are offering."
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB