ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995 TAG: 9512050070
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on December 6, 1995.
Clarification
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, did attend and speak at U.S. Sen. John
Warner's fund-raiser in Roanoke on Monday even though, as a story
Tuesday reported, he was not on the host committee for the event.
U.S. Sen. John Warner, R-Va., began flexing his financial muscles Monday by kicking off a series of re-election fund-raisers that are drawing some of the biggest names in Virginia business.
"These events are important," Warner said. "I think a campaign is judged in many ways on its financial strength. If you're asking people to invest in you, you have to show that you have the tools to win."
Warner, 68, faces a challenge for the Republican nomination next year from Jim Miller, who was budget chief for the Reagan administration. Miller is scheduled to start touring the state today to launch his campaign.
About 60 business leaders paid $500 a head to attend a noon luncheon in Richmond with Warner. Among the senator's benefactors were Bruce Gottwald, chairman of Ethyl Corp.; Richard Sharp, chairman of Circuit City; and James Wheat III, a prominent stockbroker.
Warner followed that with an evening of raising funds in Roanoke, where the host committee included Tom Robertson of Carilion Health System, Nicholas Taubman of Advance Auto Stores, Ben Jenkins of First Union National Bank, Gordon Willis Sr. of Rockydale Quarries and Jay Langhammer of Fabricated Metals.
The display seems to indicate that much of Virginia's Main Street business community is unconcerned with Warner's tiff with Virginia's Republican Party. Warner angered conservative GOP leaders by refusing to support two GOP candidates for statewide office in recent years.
Warner also used the fund-raisers to show off his support from fellow Republican politicians. In Roanoke, former Rep. Caldwell Butler, former Del. Steve Agee, former Mayor Noel Taylor, state Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo and Del. Morgan Griffith were part of the host committee. Conspicuous by his absence from the roster was Roanoke's Republican congressman, Bob Goodlatte.
In Richmond, Warner was accompanied by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, and in Roanoke by Sen. John Chafee, R-Rhode Island, chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Warner declined to withdraw a threat that he may run as an independent if the state party refuses to heed his demand for a primary election next year. GOP leaders are scheduled to meet Saturday to vote on whether to hold a primary or a state convention. "We shall await the outcome," Warner said. "I'm hopeful people will see that a primary would strengthen the party."
Warner has more high-profile fund-raisers planned. On Monday, Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyoming, is scheduled to join him in Norfolk.
According to campaign finance reports filed in July, Warner raised $867,000 during the first half of this year and had a balance of $726,000 on hand. Miller raised $76,000 during the same period and spent all but $7,500 of it.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICSby CNB