University of Virginia Library

Michael's Campaign In Planning Stage

By LIBBY WITHERS

Democratic State Senator J.
Harry Michael Jr. of
Charlottesville is laying the
foundations for his campaign
for state Lieutenant Governor.

In a telephone conversation
yesterday   with The Cavalier
Daily, he said, "I have no
hesitancy in saying I can work
with anyone who is governor. I
am working with the office–no
matter who the governor is."

Mr. Michael has entered the
race in an effort to aid other
Democratic candidates seeking
election to the General
Assembly this year, and to
"help provide the
Commonwealth with a choice
for each of the state-wide
elective offices," he said.

With no formal platform
yet devised, Mr. Michael said
the job of Lieutenant Governor
is "one of complete
impartiality and fairness in
presiding over the Senate. That
just about states my platform."

Mr. Michael will issue a
formal platform declaration
later, he said.

His campaign will be a lone
one, as he plans to support
neither of the independent
gubernatorial candidates, Lt.
Gov. Henry E. Howell Jr. or
former Gov. Mills E. Godwin
Jr.

"I am running for
Lieutenant Governor, which
will take much more energy
than I've got," he said. "I
won't get in any of the other
races."

The Democratic party has
no candidate for governor in
the election. Mr. Michael feels
this is a handicap, though not a
severe one.

He said it is hard to predict
whether the Democrats will
suffer or not without a
gubernatorial candidate. "I will
say that it is unusual," he said.

Mr. Michael is opposed in
the election by independent
candidate Flora Crater of Falls
Church, Virginia Women's
Political Caucus founder and
the editor of The Woman
Activist Bulletin and by three
Republican candidates: State
Senators Joseph Canada and
John Dalton, and State
Delegate Robert Morgan.

Citing the three
Republicans, he said they all
have had varying degrees of
legislative experience and "all
would make fine candidates."

Mr. Michael stated that the
four candidates are all able
ones. "Mrs. Crater hasn't had
legislative experience, which
would be a handicap," he said.

When asked what he thinks
his chances of winning are, Mr.
Michael laughed, "I can't
estimate that, but I will say
that I've always run scared
plumb to death."

Mr. Michael's political
history, though, shows that he
has no need to.

He defeated Thomas
Delaney in 1967 in the state
Senate race, and won his
second term in 1971, defeating
John T. Camblos of
Charlottesville.

Mr. Camblos, campaigning
on a charge against Mr. Michael
of receiving overpayment per
mile for trips to Richmond,
was blasted by his own
campaign manager and beaten
badly by Mr. Michael.

CD/Jim Wilson

"Complete Impartiality And Fairness In Presiding Over The Senate."