DATE: Tuesday, September 16, 1997           TAG: 9709160293

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: RICHMOND                          LENGTH:   91 lines

BEYER AND GILMORE ARE NECK-AND-NECK IN GOVERNOR'S RACE THE TWO CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING ABOUT EVEN IN BOTH MONEY AND VOTER SUPPORT.

Virginia's gubernatorial candidates are close to even in fund raising and popularity.

Republican James S. Gilmore III had $1.48 million banked and ready to spend, and Democrat Donald S. Beyer Jr. had $1.43 million on hand as of Sept. 1, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday with the state Board of Elections.

Gilmore, a former attorney general, raised $1.26 million during July and August - including a $300,000 contribution from the Republican National Committee. He spent $761,000 during the same period.

All told, Gilmore's campaign had raised $5.66 million since its inception and spent $4.18 million.

Beyer, who is lieutenant governor, raised $964,000. The campaign did not release information about its biggest contributors. Beyer spent $799,000 during the two-month span.

The Democrat had raised a total of $5.91 million since the beginning of his campaign and spent $4.48 million.

Beyer and Gilmore have expressed confidence that they each will have ample money to wage a vigorous campaign. ``Money will not be the deciding factor in this race,'' Beyer has said.

A public opinion poll released Monday shows the candidates in a dead heat. Gilmore held a statistically insignificant 44 percent to 43 percent lead over Beyer in a survey of 813 registered voters conducted Sept. 8-10 by Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research of Columbia, Md.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent. Mason-Dixon did not release results on the races for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Financial documents for the lieutenant governor and attorney general races showed an advantage for Democrats.

In the race for lieutenant governor, Democrat L.F. Payne reported raising $367,000 in July and August and spending $167,000.

Since the start of his campaign, Payne had raised a total of a $1.32 million and managed to save $700,000 of it.

Republican John D. Hager reported raising $208,000 during the two-month period and spending $159,000.

Since the start, Hager had raised $1.27 million and spent all but raising and popularity.

Republican James S. Gilmore III had $1.48 million banked and ready to spend, and Democrat Donald S. Beyer Jr. had $1.43 million on hand as of Sept. 1, according to campaign finance reports filed Monday with the state Board of Elections.

Gilmore, a former attorney general, raised $1.26 million during July and August - including a $300,000 contribution from the Republican National Committee. He spent $761,000 during the same period.

All told, Gilmore's campaign had raised $5.66 million since its inception and spent $4.18 million.

Beyer, who is lieutenant governor, raised $964,000. The campaign did not release information about its biggest contributors. Beyer spent $799,000 during the two-month span.

The Democrat had raised a total of $5.91 million since the beginning of his campaign and spent $4.48 million.

Beyer and Gilmore have expressed confidence that they each will have ample money to wage a vigorous campaign. ``Money will not be the deciding factor in this race,'' Beyer has said.

A public opinion poll released Monday shows the candidates in a dead heat. Gilmore held a statistically insignificant 44 percent to 43 percent lead over Beyer in a survey of 813 registered voters conducted Sept. 8-10 by Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research of Columbia, Md.

The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent. Mason-Dixon did not release results on the races for lieutenant governor and attorney general.

Financial documents for the lieutenant governor and attorney general races showed an advantage for Democrats.

In the race for lieutenant governor, Democrat L.F. Payne reported raising $367,000 in July and August and spending $167,000.

Since the start of his campaign, Payne had raised a total of a $1.32 million and managed to save $700,000 of it.

Republican John D. Hager reported raising $208,000 during the two-month period and spending $159,000.

Since the start, Hager had raised $1.27 million and spent all but $463,000.

In the contest for attorney general, Democrat William D. Dolan III raised $172,000 in July and August and spent $114,000. All told, he had raised $725,000 and had a balance of $302,000.

Republican Mark L. Earley collected $256,000 in July and August and spent $152,000. All told, Earley had collected $672,000 and had a balance of $116,000. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

Poll Watch

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GUBERNATORIAL RACE POLL

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