DATE: Wednesday, October 29, 1997           TAG: 9710290662

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: STAFF AND WIRE REPORT 

                                            LENGTH:   35 lines

GILMORE LEADS BEYER IN TWO RECENT POLLS

Republican James S. Gilmore III holds a clear lead over Democrat Donald S. Beyer Jr. one week before the governor's election, and Gilmore's proposal to eliminate the hated personal property tax on some autos is one reason, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Gilmore was the choice of 45 percent of those surveyed in a statewide telephone poll conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University Oct. 21-26. Thirty-seven percent of the 718 likely voters polled favored Beyer, and 17 percent remained undecided.

The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Twenty-three percent of those surveyed ranked the car tax proposal as the most important issue to them in the governor's race.

Another poll released this week shows Gilmore leading 51 percent to 38 percent, with 11 percent undecided. That poll, by the Center for Community Research at Roanoke College, consisted of telephone interviews of 457 randomly selected voters Oct. 22-26. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus about 4.5 percent.

Of respondents in the Roanoke poll:

Thirty-four percent mentioned education as the most important issue that will confront Virginia during the next governor's term of office.

Fourteen percent mentioned the economy, 12 percent crime and 12 percent taxes as the next most pressing issues.

Thirty-seven percent of respondents felt that Beyer was more likely to improve the quality of education in Virginia. Thirty-three percent said Gilmore would do better. KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE VIRGINIA

POLLS CANDIDATES

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