Allen, Webb Stake Out Positions on 'No Child'

"It's the lost issue in this campaign," said Robert D. Holsworth, a political scientist at Virginia Commonwealth University.

On his campaign Web site, Webb, a former Navy secretary, devotes 11 paragraphs to the Iraq war and two to education.

In a recent TV ad, Allen's wife, Susan, said the senator is a "father first" and has worked "hard to raise academic standards." But the spot did not mention his concerns about the law.

Holsworth said he was surprised that Allen hasn't used his critique of the law to demonstrate independence from President Bush.

"It's an area where he can easily deflect the argument that he's attached at the hip to the president," Holsworth said.

The candidates are split on another educational controversy: school vouchers. Webb's spokeswoman said the Democrat opposes public funding to help pay private school tuition -- a position that helped him win the endorsement of the Virginia Education Association, a teachers union that is an affiliate of the National Education Association. Allen voted in 2004 for a spending bill that launched an experimental voucher program in the District. "There should not be a federal prohibition" on vouchers, he said.

On higher education, Webb's spokeswoman said one of his priorities would be to help U.S. troops involved in fighting terrorism attend college after leaving the military. Denny Todd said Webb envisions a plan modeled after the post-World War II G.I. Bill. She said Webb would seek government funding for tuition and other expenses.

Allen, who often talks about the need for more engineers and scientists, has touted his support of proposals to provide $250 million in technology grants for historically black colleges, tribal colleges and other institutions that serve minority students.

Staff writer Michael D. Shear contributed to this report.