ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, February 13, 1996             TAG: 9602130071
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 

WHEN VIRGINIA VOTES

LENGTH: Medium:   59 lines
ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC:      The Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary 
          are the traditional starting points in the presidential campaign. 
          But Virginia voters don't get a chance to weigh in until later in 
          the spring, by which time the nominating contests are usually 
          wrapped up.
             
             REPUBLICANS: 
             Method: Caucuses.
             When: March-May.
             How it works: Virginia Republicans stretch out their delegate 
          selection process over three months. First, they hold local caucuses
          throughout the month of March to pick delegates to their 
          congressional district conventions in May and the state convention 
          May 31-June 1. It's at those latter two conventions where the 
          delegates to the national convention in San Diego will be selected.
             Because the process takes so long, and the delegates to the 
          national convention aren't actually selected until May, the local 
          caucuses starting March 5 in Roanoke have little to do with the 
          presidential campaign. There's likely to be little organized effort 
          on behalf of any presidential candidate, says party activist Trixie 
          Averill of Roanoke County. "It really takes the fun out of it," she 
          says.
             What's at stake: In the 5th Congressional District in Southside, 
          the local caucuses will have more meaning. That's because the 
          delegates elected there to the district convention will be 
          nominating a candidate for the House of Representatives, and the 
          party could see a three-way fight for the right to run for the seat 
          being vacated by retiring Rep. L.F. Payne, D-Nelson County.
             What's not at stake: Republicans will pick their Senate candidate
          in a June 11 primary that pits incumbent John Warner against 
          challenger Jim Miller.
             For more information: Call state Republican headquarters at 
          804-780-0111.
             
             DEMOCRATS: 
             Method: Caucuses.
             When: April 13 and 15.
             What's at stake: Because President Clinton is unopposed, the main
          business will be picking delegates to the congressional district 
          conventions to nominate candidates for the House of Representatives 
          and picking delegates to the June 7-8 state convention to nominate a
          candidate for the U.S. Senate. Alexandria cellular phone 
          entrepreneur and former state party chairman Mark Warner faces 
          former Rep. Leslie Byrne of Falls Church.
             For more information: Call state Democratic headquarters at 
          804-644-1966. 
KEYWORDS: POLITICS