THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 25, 1996 TAG: 9606250283
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: HAMPTON LENGTH: 37 lines
Russell N. Axsom, vice president of the state AFL-CIO and former president of the major union local at Newport News Shipbuilding, is assured of union support for his run for Congress this fall.
But it is less certain whether the assistance he gets will be enough to help him unseat seven-term Rep. Herbert H. Bateman, R-1st District.
Axsom, 60, became the Democratic Party's 11th-hour nominee two weeks ago. Local and state labor leaders said they will help Axsom as much as possible in what promises to be an uphill campaign for a candidate who has never held public office.
``I will do whatever I can'' to elect Axsom, said Thomas Crudup, president of the United Steelworkers of America's Local 8888 at the shipyard, the job Axsom held until he was defeated in 1991.
But any donations would come from the union's international headquarters in Pittsburgh, not the local, Crudup said.
Bateman had more than $150,000 left in the weeks before his June 11 primary victory and should have no trouble raising funds as an entrenched incumbent.
John J. McGlennon, chairman of the Democratic 1st District Committee, said Axsom likely will not be able to raise the $300,000 to $500,000 generally regarded as a minimum for a credible congressional campaign.
``But I think Russ will be able to raise enough money to let voters know that they have an alternative to the incumbent,'' McGlennon said.
Axsom said Monday he is asking unions for contributions.
``I'm contacting unions, yes, and other businesses and community leaders and anyone that would be willing to help,'' Axsom said.
``I come out of the unions and I need the union support and I appreciate that support,'' he said.
KEYWORDS: CONGRESSIONAL RACE by CNB