THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 12, 1996 TAG: 9606120487
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 64 lines
Seven-term U.S. Rep. Herbert H. Bateman easily beat back a challenge from social conservative David L. Caprara on Tuesday to win the Republican primary in Virginia's 1st District.
With all precincts reporting, unofficial totals showed Bateman with 49,511 votes, or 80 percent, and Caprara with 12,648 votes, or 20 percent. The challenger lost in his home base in the Fredericksburg area.
At a victory party in Newport News, Bateman said he was disappointed by the low turnout.
``The thing that I feel so vindicated by is that in a turnout this light, the result was so overwhelming,'' Bateman said.
Caprara told supporters in Fredericksburg that he was proud of his effort to promote conservative issues.
``I would do it all over again in a heartbeat because principles really matter,'' he said.
Bateman, 67, was the only one of Virginia's 11 representatives to face a primary challenge. Caprara, 41, quit as director of the state Department of Housing and Community Development to take on the congressman.
Bateman will face Russell N. Axsom, a former union president at Newport News Shipbuilding, in the November election. District Democrats nominated Axsom, 60, during the party's state convention at Hampton on Saturday.
The heavily Republican district stretches from the Peninsula north to the Fredericksburg area and across the Chesapeake Bay to the Eastern Shore.
Bateman, the fifth-ranking Republican on the National Security Committee and chair of its military readiness subcommittee, emphasized his efforts to help Newport News Shipbuilding and other regional interests.
Caprara aimed his pitch at the party's conservative wing by stressing his opposition to abortion, the federal Goals 2000 education program and welfare for unwed mothers.
While Bateman was endorsed by most Republican leaders in the district, Caprara was backed by the National Rifle Association and prominent social conservatives such as home-schooling advocate Michael Farris and Family Foundation President Walt Barbee.
With little money, Caprara had to confine his advertising to radio while the well-funded Bateman advertised on both radio and television throughout the district.
Bateman also had the advantage of being from the Peninsula, where nearly half the district's population lives. Caprara lives in the Fredericksburg area.
Several controversies dogged Caprara's campaign. News accounts revealed he was once a follower of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his parents had him kidnapped to sever his ties with Moon's Unification Church. Caprara said he and his parents have reconciled and he is a born-again Catholic.
Also, a former state housing department employee accused Caprara of using state resources to further his political ambitions. The state auditor cleared him of any wrongdoing. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rep. Herb Bateman, surrounded by family, thanks his supporters
during a victory dinner at the Ramada Inn in Newport News on
Tuesday. Bateman said he was disappointed by the low voter turnout.
KEYWORDS: U.S. HOUSE OF DELEGATES RACE VIRGINIA
ELECTION VIRGINIA RESULTS 1ST DISTRICT by CNB