University of Virginia Library

John Epps

J. Harry In The Runni

illustration

State Sen. J. Harry Michael
is running for lieutenant
governor of Virginia, Surprised.
That little bit of information
would come as a jolt to many
Virginians. The number of
people who don't know that
Charlottesville's senator is
running is only surpassed by
the number of people in the
state who don't even know
who Michael is. And, as of yet,
the candidate has neglected to
tell them.

Michael has already fallen a
good distance behind his
Republican opponent, Jerold
X. Dalton, who by now has his
face plastered on billboards
throughout the entire state.
Michael's campaign
coordinator, Bill Jackson,
blamed the Democrats' poor
showing to date on a lack of
funds and the fact that the
candidates for lieutenant
governor are running in the
shadow of one of the most
"dramatic gubernatorial
campaigns" the state has ever
witnessed.

That's true. The
Howell-Godwin race will
probably develop into the most
memorable election in
Virginia history, and it is only
natural that the state press
would focus its attention on
that confrontation. But Dalton
is not letting the main event
force him to tone down his act,
as Michael is. One observer
senses Michael may believe it is
in bad taste to do too much
campaigning before Labor Day.
That, however, may be too
late.

The candidate who is going
to win the second spot in the
state machinery will be the
one, as Jackson said, who gets
his message and his name
across to the most people in
the state. Issues in this race are
not important since a
lieutenant governor lacks the
power to see legislation
through the legislature. The
winner will be the one who
sells his name to the most
voters. Jackson said Michal is
going to run on such nebulous
"planks" as his "idea of what
can be done with the office."

But, be that as it may, the
big, question is still
unanswered. When is Michael
going to get moving? Jackson
blamed money on the slow
start. He lamented that earlier
released figures showed Dalton
spent over $60,000 on just
getting the Republican
nomination (and The
Richmond Mercury today
reports that Dalton actually
spent $37,741.60 out of a
budget of $43,904.95) while
the Michael campaign coffers
show a meager $15,000 to date.

O.K. It's true the c
with the most money
a better campaign,
much does it cost
candidate to hold
conference or make a
issue a press release?
things would get a ca
mane in the newspaper
since his nomination
appears to have bee
low.

Finally, aft
unexplained wait, Mic
a pres a conference wh
the Monday afternoon
That's a good start,
wants to stay in the ra
to use that press conference
a beginning for s
more comprehensive
periodical appearance
made thus far.

Michael's lack of
and a large organiz
good excuses for any
who is falling behind