THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 16, 1995 TAG: 9508160002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Another View
SOURCE: By JOHN GOOLRICK
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Governor Allen's magical mystery summer tour of 1995, a curious mixture of promoting use of Virginia cigarettes and voting for Republican legislative candidates, is history.
And though Democrats constantly carped that its purpose was obviously political in nature, the visits to various parts of the state generated enormous publicity and undoubtedly helped the governor's popularity in polls.
That is vitally important to GOP chances in the fall elections which may become in large measure a referendum on the governor's performance during the first half of his term.
That is unusual in Virginia where legislative races are usually highly individualistic in nature and mainly disconnected from gubernatorial politics. But Allen has been the most partisan chief executive in modern Virginia history and the battle lines have been clearly drawn between the two parties.
Democrats are trying desperately to hang on to their narrow majorities in both the House of Delegates and state Senate. If they can accomplish that, then the Allen goose may be cooked to a crisp during his final two years in office. The budget he will be required to submit to the 1996 General Assembly session will quickly resemble the confetti floating down from skyscraper windows during Wall Street parades.
But, (as Randy Travis observed) on the other hand, a GOP takeover of just one legislative chamber would greatly strengthen Allen's hand and Republican majorities in both houses would probably make Allen one of the strongest governors of the century.
Allen, of course, is acutely aware of all this and cleverly used his trip to provide different political strokes for different folks. According to his detractors, he changed his message to suit his audience for obvious political reasons.
That may be true, but it appeared to work well as he spoke of welfare reform in Culpeper, tourism promotion in Fredericksburg, economic development in Hampton Roads, tough anti-crime measures in the Richmond area.
Reporters who accompanied Allen reported that while he had lots of fun on the trip, he stayed focused on his messages and rarely strayed from them.
Some questioned the wisdom of a governor handing out packs of Virginia cigarettes to some smokers he saw using cigarettes made in other states, but it is vintage Allen. After all, this is the same governor who wears cowboy hats with his suits, chews snuff and rides horses in parades.
It is far too early to tell what the November effect, if any, of Allen's campaigning will be, but it obviously has Democrats very worried. They are doing everything they can to portray the Allen administration as one devoted to making budget cuts that would punish education at all levels, the elderly, the mentally ill, the poor and everyone else.
There are many so-called ``key'' races to watch but, perhaps, two of the most significant will be in Senate District 24 where Democrat Frank Nolen of New Hope is the incumbent and House District 56 where Democrat V. Earl Dickinson of Louisa is the incumbent.
Both incumbents are among the most conservative Democrats in the General Assembly, and both have strong Republican challengers.
It says here if Nolen loses, the GOP will take over the Senate. If Dickinson loses, the House will go Republican. If they win, the Senate and House are much more likely to remain in Democratic control. by CNB