DATE: Sunday, November 2, 1997              TAG: 9711020136

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A9   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   34 lines

FOCUS: THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL '97 DON BEYER JR.

He never seems to have a bad day on the trail. He's always upbeat, always friendly and always ready with a pithy quote from Shakespeare or a timely quip.

Yet for all his polish and intellect, Beyer has struggled to find a message as strong as his opponent's pledge to cut the car tax. He's tried arguing that the state should be investing all its spare resources into improving roads and education. He has denounced his opponent's plan as a sham even after announcing his own program to give relief from the car tax.

In the past few days, Beyer has once again turned to his natural optimism, reminding voters of his dramatic come-from-behind victory of the lieutenant governor's office in 1989. ILLUSTRATION: BEYER PHOTOS BY VICKI CRONIS

TOP LEFT: Bill Keenan of Norfolk...laughs as Don Beyer...

TOP RIGHT: Beyer talks with former governor Doug Wilder...

ABOVE: Beyer shakes hands on the move...

ABOVE: Beyer bows his head...Louise Washington...Marian Bullock...

LEFT: Don Beyer faces union members Doc Hilliard, left, and Mike

Brooks, ... KEYWORDS: ELECTION VIRGINIA GUBERNATORIAL RACE VIRGINIA

CAMPAIGNING CANDIDATES

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