Open Seat Season
The Race in Virginia's 2nd
Congressional District

Oct. 13, 2000: The battle for Virginia's 2nd Congressional District has finally taken to the airwaves, as Democrat Jody Wagner and Republican Edward Schrock continue their competing bids to replace retiring Democratic Rep. Owen Pickett.

New ads for Wagner ran on three major Hampton Roads area television stations, marking the first time both candidates had an on-air presence at the same time. The ads were Wagner's first since an introductory spot last March after she announced her candidacy. Schrock has run three pieces since July.

But for the 45-year-old Wagner, a political unknown in a district that encompasses Virginia Beach -- the state's largest city -- and parts of Norfolk, TV face-time could be of serious importance. Schrock, 59, a state senator for the past four years, is relatively well known in the area, and Wagner has been criticized for not taking her campaign to television earlier.

"I've heard complaints," Wagner said at a recent campaign stop, "'What are you doing? We haven't seen any TV commercials, we haven't heard any signs.' We're going, and we're going to go strong."

But, so far, Wagner has lagged behind Schrock in TV spending, paying out $50,000 for television spots, while Schrock has bought $150,000, according to Norfolk's Virginian-Pilot newspaper.

Wagner, instead, has been pushing for more live events to debate Schrock in person. The two have made two joint campaign appearances, and are scheduled for four more, but Schrock has been slow to agree to any other meetings.

Among the events Schrock said he wouldn't attend was a televised forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of South Hampton Roads. Wagner said Schrock's refusal stems from reluctance "to get out there and talk about the issues with me," but Schrock said he's just sticking to places where he feels comfortable.

"We're calling the shots in our campaign -- nobody else is," Schrock told The Virginian-Pilot last week. "We're running this like an operation plan in the military and we're not going to veer off."

Wagner had a similar response after she drew fire for remarks during a town hall meeting in early September. Asked about her position on the hotly contested U.S. Senate race between former Virginia Gov. George Allen, a Republican, and two-term Democratic Sen. Chuck Robb, Wagner replied: "I'm not supporting anybody for the U.S. Senate. I'm running my own campaign."

Schrock's campaign seized on the moment, charging in a press release that "Jody Wagner disavows her support" for Robb. Wagner later said she would, in fact, support Robb, but said she preferred to focus on issues rather than partisan politics.

But it's the candidates' stances on the issues that have many in the area seeing double. Both said they would work to eliminate the "marriage penalty" tax, move toward solutions on jet noise issues around the Oceana Naval Air Station, and support plans to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors. Both candidates are also steadfast in support of plans to increase military spending in the area -- an especially popular position in the 2nd district, home to the world's largest Naval base.

But the two differ on some issues, including taxes. Schrock supports tax cuts on personal property and food while Wagner stands behind tax breaks for small businesses. Wagner supports abortion rights, while Shrock is anti-abortion. And Wagner thinks the federal budget surplus should be used to pay down the debt, while Schrock says the money should be used for education and to lower the price of prescription drugs.

Many watching this election say Wagner faces an uphill battle as a Democrat in a largely conservative district. A poll conducted by Old Dominion University and The Virginian-Pilot released Sept. 17 shows Schrock with 31 percent of the vote and Wagner with 21 percent. Nearly half of those surveyed said they were still undecided.

-- By Greg Barber, The Online NewsHour