for Democratic mass meetings where delegates would be chosen

for Democratic mass meetings where delegates would be chosen to the all-important state convention in June, 1993.

Now let’s say against all odds Bill Dolan was put in nomination at the convention and beat out two or three opponents who were better financed. He is the party’s nominee and because of the publicity considerably better known than before, but still someone that roughly 88 percent of Virginians have still never heard of.

The bottom line is that Bill Dolan would have to raise at least a couple of million dollars to pay my salary as campaign manager and more importantly to pay for a few hundred 30-second television spots which might get him to the point before election day where half the population of Virginia recognizes his name from somewhere, though they may not be sure why they’ve heard it.

Sounds easy enough unless you try to do it. Mary Sue Terry, for instance, raised a half million in one night not long ago, but that’s because of her long experience in public life and powerful backers. Bill Dolan starts out a cipher though he is on the right track in getting bumper stickers on vehicles. After all, I recognize the name Bill Dolan now and that he is a candidate for one of the three highest offices in the state of Virginia.

Good luck Bill Dolan wherever you are.

And finally I might as well toss in a bit of preelection analysis. President Bush will carry Virginia though Ross Perot’s presence may narrow the race. Six Democrats and five Republicans will be elected to Congress, though the split might be seven to five if one closely contested race tilts Democratic. State bonds will pass but relatively narrowly in this volatile anit-spending year.

(Editor’s note: John Goolrick, a former political reporter, is an aide to U.S. Rep. George Allen, R-7th Dist. Opinions expressed are his oum and not necessarily those of this newspaper.)