DATE: Tuesday, October 21, 1997             TAG: 9710210274

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Decision '97 

SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: ABINGDON                          LENGTH:   73 lines

STUMPING FOR GILMORE, ALLEN FAULTS BEYER GOVERNOR SAYS DEMOCRAT HAS NO RIGHT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR PAROLE REFORMS.

Gov. George F. Allen on Monday sharply criticized Democratic gubernatorial nominee Donald S. Beyer Jr. for stating on television commercials that he was influential in abolishing parole.

``Don Beyer had nothing to do with it,'' said Allen, whose successful push to end parole in 1994 is regarded as perhaps the most significant accomplishment of his Republican administration.

``He made vacillating and inconsistent statements on it from the start,'' said Allen, who will leave office in January because of Virginia's one-term limit for governors. ``In fact, if it were up to Don Beyer and his allies, we would still have liberal, lenient parole. Don Beyer wasn't an ally on it; he was an adversary.

``The next thing he'll say is that he had something to do with the sun coming up this morning.''

Having returned recently from a two-week trade mission to Asia, Allen began tending to a piece of Virginia business that will occupy much of his attention through Nov. 5: campaigning for Republican gubernatorial nominee James S. Gilmore III.

The duo made plane stops in Abingdon, Roanoke, Norfolk and Richmond on Monday. At a time when polls showing almost two out of three Virginians crediting Allen with doing an excellent or good job, the governor dubbed Gilmore as the logical heir to and protector of his conservative reforms.

Before rallies of between 50 and 100 supporters at airports in each city, the two Republicans predicted that Beyer - if elected - would dismantle key Allen programs such as parole abolition, welfare reform and new standardized testing aimed at academically rating every public school in Virginia.

``I think it's important to come here today and say that much of what Gov. Allen worked for - much of what we all worked for - can disappear in the flash of an eye if we (Republicans) are not re-elected,'' Gilmore said.

Allen is slated to bear the message in frequent travels around the state with Gilmore before Election Day. ``If they want me, I'm available,'' Allen said.

It is debatable just what Allen can accomplish for Gilmore in a race that polls have shown for months to be dead even. It may be impossible for Allen to transfer his popularity to Gilmore. Most voters say they are not influenced by endorsements. And those who are the greatest admirers of Allen, polls show, are conservatives who likely are backing Gilmore already.

``The governor probably can't change many minds,'' said Scott Keeter, director of the Commonwealth Poll and Virginia Commonwealth University. ``But on the other hand, his presence can't hurt Gilmore. The governor can attract a lot of attention.''

Indeed, five reporters flew with Allen and Gilmore on their journey. And at each stop, a bevy of local journalists was on hand.

Dealing with Allen presents a ticklish challenge for Beyer. He has avoided aiming broad or personal salvos at the popular governor and targeted criticism only at a few specific programs of his administration.

``There are sharp differences on a number of issues - the environment, the treatment of the state work force and some of the educational things,'' said Page Boinest, a spokeswoman for Beyer. ``But that doesn't mean he doesn't give the governor credit for doing a good job on other things like economic development.''

Boinest defended Beyer's claim to playing a role ending parole, saying he urged Democratic legislators during closed-door caucuses to vote for the measure. Contrary to Allen's claim, Boinest said, Beyer ``has made it clear he will not support any retreat on parole reform.''

She said Beyer also strongly supports welfare reform, which he helped negotiate with Allen in 1995. ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

BETH BERGMAN/The Virginian-Pilot

Gov. George F. Allen, right, rallies on behalf of GOP gubernatorial

candidate James S. Gilmore III, left, in Norfolk on Monday. KEYWORDS: ELECTION CANDIDATE GUBERNATORIAL RACE VIRGINIA

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