Competitive Shopper Annabelle Loper Sportswoman for Mark Warner

As a girl growing up in Louisiana, I acquired a ready proficiency in the sport of competitive shopping -- understanding the value of being at the right store at the right time, building up the stamina to go the distance with fully loaded shopping bags, knowing when to stop for coffee and pie.

So when the Virginia legislature proposed a constitutional amendment to preserve the right to hunt and fish, I applauded Senator Janet D. Howell's (D-Fairfax) heroic efforts to include shopping as one of our inalienable and basic Virginian rights.

As a lifelong practitioner in competitive shopping, I am confident that Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and Donald McEachin will bring value to our state. They will recognize the poor bargain that Republican politicians try to foist off on Virginia's citizens - the car tax "refund" leaps to mind.

On election day, I urge my fellow shoppers to put on your best gear, to march proudly to your voting precinct and snap up this bargain for the state - Mark, Tim and Don!

Annabelle Loper (electronic mail, July 1, 2001).