ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, February 23, 1996              TAG: 9602230046
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: B-1  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: NORFOLK
SOURCE: PAUL CLANCY LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE 

WARNER TAKES PLUNGE FOR ANOTHER TERM

The moment John Warner finished his prepared remarks on the waterfront here Thursday, declaring his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the Senate, a ship behind him on the Elizabeth River produced a loud foghorn blast.

Warner, who had chosen the location to emphasize his military credentials, couldn't have been more pleased. ``Very appropriate timing,'' he crowed, as if his advance staff had staged the sound effect.

Warner has been at odds with many party activists over his refusal to support right-leaning Republican candidates. He used the announcement to underscore his ``conservative, hard-voting'' record. The 69-year-old former Navy secretary is seeking a fourth Senate term.

The centrist Republican faces a June 11 primary challenge from the right by former Reagan administration budget director Jim Miller. Miller and other party conservatives have tried to paint Warner as a liberal, and a disloyal one at that.

Warner's approval ratings may be high among Virginians as a whole, but party leaders have not forgiven him for saying two years ago that Republican U.S. Senate candidate and Iran-Contra figure Oliver North was unfit for office.

Warner also declined to back Christian conservative Mike Farris in the 1993 lieutenant governor's race. Both North and Farris lost.

``I've been in this business a long time,'' Warner told the crowd of about 60 supporters. ``It's not popular to put principle ahead of party, to put the interest of your country and your state ahead of politics, but, ladies and gentlemen, that's the way I do business, and I make no apology to anyone.''

Asked about party divisions, he paraphrased a line from Benjamin Franklin. ``If we don't stick together, we'll undoubtedly hang separately,'' he said. ``We had better learn to stick together.''

It is no surprise that Warner is running again. He made the official announcement Thursday in Richmond, Alexandria, Norfolk and Hampton, with more stops planned around the state today and Saturday. He'll be outside Center in the Square in downtown Roanoke at 11:45 a.m. today.

The primary winner likely will face former Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Mark Warner or former Rep. Leslie Byrne in the November election. The Warners are not related.

Warner, who said he is backing Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole for the presidency, also was putting forward his moderate credentials.

He said he has fought for a balanced budged, attacked crime and drug abuse, and supported welfare reform and a ``balanced'' approach to cleaning up the environment.

JOHN WARNER

Seeking Republican nomination for U.S. Senate

Age: 69

Residence: Alexandria

Political background: Elected to U.S. Senate in 1978, now completing third term. Former secretary of the Navy.

Personal: Divorced.

LENGTH: Medium:   69 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  AP. Virginia's Republican senator will be outside Center
          in the Square in downtown Roanoke at 11:45 a.m. today. color.
KEYWORDS: POLITICS