THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 17, 1995 TAG: 9509170076
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
Virginia Republicans trying to take control of the legislature for the first time are heading into the November elections with nearly twice as much money in the bank as Democrats, campaign reports show.
Republican Gov. George F. Allen had about $409,000 saved up on Aug. 31 for the final blitz to Nov. 7; the Joint Republican Caucus had an additional $455,000, the reports filed Friday show.
In contrast, the Democratic Party and its two legislative caucuses had a total war chest of about $500,000.
``This shows the support that's out there for a Republican majority,'' said Chris Nolen, director of Allen's political action committee, which raised $165,000 in July and August. ``This will be probably the first time that we'll be able to stand on an equal footing with the Democrats. It's going to be a real battle, come October.''
All 140 seats in the House of Delegates and the state Senate are up for election this year.
For decades, the Democrats had little trouble raising money, while the minority Republicans were left with scraps. But with Republicans so near to a majority - they need to pick up just three seats in both chambers - wealthy donors, corporations and interest groups can no longer ignore the GOP.
Also, Allen has campaigned tirelessly in hopes of helping elect a Republican General Assembly. No sitting Virginia governor has raised so much money for his own organization during midterm elections.
``There's certainly more competition for campaign funding,'' said Gail Nardi, a Democratic Party of Virginia spokeswoman. ``There's absolutely no question that when you have a sitting governor who sends his Cabinet out and his chief of staff out to raise money from special interests that they're going to raise a lot of money.'' by CNB