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nent, Democrat Hen* ty How- BOWLES' ell.
Dalton announced the cancellations at a Richmond news conference Sept. 19. Since that time speculation has been rife over the impact of the move. Whatever its effect, there has been general agreement that it was the most dramatic development thus far in the 1977 campaign for the governorship.
In an effort to assess its effect, this reporter contacted about 20 political writers, political science experts and others around the state who keep an eye on such things.
Those interviewed were, to the extent possible, limited to those who have taken no prior public or editorial position on the race.
Dalton, in calling off the joint meetings, charged Howell with conducting a “headline-seeking, issueducking character assassination brand of politics.” He said he would no longer subject "the people of Virginia” and himself to the attacks, which he said included attacks on his family.
Before going into the political assessments of the cancellations, it would be instructive to take a look at some of the Howell quotes which so upset Dalton.
At his press conference, Dalton distributed a fourpage list of them. Those that follow are extracted from this list, and appear to be the roughest:
—"This statement will bqual what Goebbels did, in my opinion, who was a master propagandist, during the days of Hitler.”
—“...And there has been more direct mail containing distortions of my positions and deception and deceit than ever in the history of Virginia.”
—“You see he’s either very deceptive or he’s dumb. One or the other, he’s deceptive or dumb.”
—“...The same old thing except it’s meaner...than a junk yard dog...It’s mean, despicable, deceptive, and it’s destroying Virginia politics.”
—“But, you know there was a man named Nixon, Richard was his name, and Johnny Dalton hugged him and got him by the hand and dragged him in to stand right beside Linwood Holton and get Linwood elected.” —“It is probably considered ’smart politics’ for
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