The Virginian-Pilot
                              THE LEDGER-STAR  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995              TAG: 9502100601
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   28 lines

``WE COULD HAVE CALLED IT A CORONATION.''

B1 ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

ASSOCIATED PRESS

It was their night and the Republicans celebrated their preeminence

in Washington with a record-breaking fund-raising gala. Virginia's

Gov. George F. Allen Jr., second from the left, joined House Speaker

Newt Gingrich, Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole and a host of

governors in the spotlight Thursday night. In an inaugural-like

setting, the Republicans toasted the recent elections that propelled

them to control of both houses of Congress and several

governorships. It was an embarrassment of leaders for a party that

hasn't had majorities in both chambers for four decades. And an

embarrassment of riches for a party that's never had any trouble

raising funds even in less celebratory times. They raised a

respectable $11 million at the $1,000 to $1,500 per ticket affair.

by CNB