DATE: Sunday, November 2, 1997              TAG: 9711020129

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

                                            LENGTH:   74 lines

SWEEP DREAMS FOR GOP CAMPAIGN TRAIL GILMORE'S LEAD OVER BEYER BOOSTS GOP HOPES FOR HOUSE MAJORITY

Republican candidates revved up supporters Saturday by holding out the possibility of a GOP sweep in Tuesday's elections, while Democratic gubernatorial candidate Donald S. Beyer Jr. tried to keep his backers' spirits from flagging.

Beyer and his Republican opponent, James S. Gilmore III, led their ticketmates on tours at opposite ends of the state.

At a Chesapeake craft fair, Gilmore inspected the work of an artist who said he likes the car-tax cut idea. ``If he can get rid of that, he will be doing the people of Virginia a big favor,'' Brian Biggar said.

In the southwest, Beyer and his ticketmates were met at each stop by small groups of supporters, and the candidate challenged them to keep fighting for him through Election Day.

A Mason-Dixon poll Thursday showed Gilmore holding a 9 percentage point lead, boosting GOP hopes that two lesser statewide offices and control of the House of Delegates are within reach.

``Polls don't mean anything,'' Beyer said. ``All they do is discourage us or encourage us, when they should do neither.''

At a rally in Chesapeake, GOP attorney general candidate Mark Earley said a GOP sweep - which would be unprecedented in Virginia - is critical to keep the gains of Republican Gov. George F. Allen's administration.

Gilmore's proposal to reduce the local car and truck tax was the central topic at both rallies. Beyer told southwestern Virginians that the tax cut would help rich northern Virginians more than it would them. He did not mention that he, too, has proposed a tax cut.

Republican candidates revved up supporters Saturday by holding out the possibility of a GOP sweep in Tuesday's elections, while Democratic gubernatorial candidate Donald S. Beyer Jr. tried to keep his backers' spirits from flagging.

Beyer and his Republican opponent, James S. Gilmore III, led their ticketmates on tours at opposite ends of the state.

At a Chesapeake craft fair, Gilmore inspected the work of an artist who said he likes the car-tax cut idea. ``If he can get rid of that, he will be doing the people of Virginia a big favor,'' Brian Biggar said.

In the southwest, Beyer and his ticketmates were met at each stop by small groups of supporters, and the candidate challenged them to keep fighting for him through Election Day.

A Mason-Dixon poll Thursday showed Gilmore holding a 9 percentage point lead, boosting GOP hopes that two lesser statewide offices and control of the House of Delegates are within reach.

``Polls don't mean anything,'' Beyer said. ``All they do is discourage us or encourage us, when they should do neither.''

At a rally in Chesapeake, GOP attorney general candidate Mark Earley said a GOP sweep - which would be unprecedented in Virginia - is critical to keep the gains of Republican Gov. George F. Allen's administration.

Gilmore said he thinks a sweep is possible, but that he's not taking anything for granted.

The House currently has 53 Democrats, 46 Republicans and one independent. The Senate has an even number of Republicans and Democrats - 20 each. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos

GARY C. KNAPP

Republican James S. Gilmore III pumps up supporters at Great Bridge

Middle School in Chesapeake on Saturday. Ticketmates John Hager and

Mark Earley were also there.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Democrat Donald S. Beyer Jr. stumps in Christiansburg on Saturday,

asking voters to ignore polls that show him trailing. With him were

running mates L.F. Payne and Bill Dolan. KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE VIRGINIA

PLATFORMS CAMPAIGNING CANDIDATES

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