Outcome May Rest On Black Turnout

Supporters say that Allen has pushed education programs, including Virginia's Standards of Learning and the federal No Child Left Behind law, that are especially beneficial to blacks.

He also picked up an important endorsement from state Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III (D-Richmond), a leading black lawmaker, who said in an interview that Allen has "appeared to be trying hard" to reach out to black voters and will help secure federal money for Virginia's historically black colleges.

Still, there is long-standing anger toward Allen and skepticism about his support for black colleges.

In an interview, Harrison B. Wilson, president of Norfolk State University from 1975 to 1997, said that when Allen was governor he never visited the school, turning down three invitations to speak at its commencement ceremony. "Every other governor came and had lunch with me and visited campus and spoke at commencement while they were in office," said Wilson, who recently aired his feelings about Allen with his church congregation.

Dick Wadhams, Allen's campaign director, said black church leaders and William Harvey, president of Hampton University, continue to support his candidate.

Lambert said he wasn't concerned.

"I kind of like to judge people on what they do now," Lambert said. "I think George has changed an awful lot. I didn't like some of the things he did as governor as well, but at the same I time I think our relationship has improved tremendously. He is very apologetic for things that happened earlier in his life."

Staff writers Timothy Dwyer and Frederick Kunkle contributed to this report.