Tight Gov. Races In New Jersey, Virginia

In New York, the incumbent mayor holds a 13-point lead over challenger

RICHMOND, Va. (AllPolitics, Oct. 21) -- In the neck-and-neck governor's race in Virginia, Republican Jim Gilmore claims his Democratic rival, Lieutenant Gov. Don Beyer, has suffered a "major blow," following former Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder's announcement last night that he won't endorse either candidate.

Beyer is Wilder's fellow Democrat and former ticket-mate, but the former governor says voters should focus on the candidates, not who's backing them. He refused to support Beyer, despite lobbying by President Bill Clinton.

Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the other state with a gubernatorial race this November, Republican Gov. Christie Whitman is facing growing opposition from someone other than Democrat Jim McGreevey. As CNN reported last week, casino owner and developer Donald Trump has been feuding with Whitman over a road and tunnel project planned for Atlantic City.

Trump is quoted in The New York Times today as saying, "I was quite friendly with Christie and her husband from the time she got elected ... But that relationship now is absolutely no good. I was totally a good friend to her and she showed totally no loyalty."

And across the Hudson River ...

Two weeks before New Yorkers vote for mayor, a new poll shows support for Republican incumbent Rudy Giuliani is just under 50 percent -- but, he still enjoys a 13-point lead over Democratic challenger Ruth Messinger.

The New York Times survey shows 14 percent still are undecided.

Messinger tried to grab the voters' attention last night by basking in Hillary Rodham Clinton's spotlight. The two women went to a Children's Defense Fund gala in New York, and afterwards, Mrs. Clinton attended a private fund-raiser for Messinger.

In Other News:

Tuesday Oct. 21, 1997

• White House Endorses House IRS Reform Plan
• Tight Gov. Races In New Jersey, Virginia
• Clinton Urges Action On Literacy Program
• New Bankruptcy Rules In The Works
• Senate Republicans To Zero In On Videotapes
• More Pre-Trial Wrangling In Jones Case
• New FBI Crime Lab Chief Introduced

E-Mail From Washington:
• White House Defends Legality Of Issue Ads