THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602150400
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Gov. George F. Allen flew to New Hampshire on Wednesday to endorse Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole.
``Bob Dole's character, principles and effective conservative leadership personifies what is good about America,'' Allen told reporters at the Executive Mansion before leaving for New Hampshire.
``His hard work, self-reliance and faith in God show that an individual from humble roots can overcome adversity and achieve great success,'' the governor added.
Allen flew to Manchester, N.H., where he joined Massachusetts Gov. William F. Weld in backing Dole at an afternoon news conference. Dole did not attend the event but participated through closed-circuit television.
Allen lauded Dole for strongly supporting efforts to decentralize the federal government and give states more power over programs such as public education and welfare.
Allen said he does not expect to spend much time this spring campaigning for Dole, the Republican front-runner. He predicted that Dole will easily lock up the nomination long before Virginia Republicans meet in a state convention May 31 to elect delegates to the GOP national convention.
Among the other Republican leaders in Dole's camp are Virginians Sen. John W. Warner and 11th District Rep. Thomas M. Davis III.
KEYWORDS: ENDORSEMENTS REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL
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