ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220057
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
U.S. Sen. John Warner, facing harsh criticism as being disloyal to the Virginia Republican Party, turned down an invitation to speak at the GOP's state convention next month.
"I'm just amazed," fumed David S. Johnson, executive director of the state GOP. "You would think he would want to provide people with an explanation."
Many party activists have been enraged at Warner for refusing to support two recent nominees for statewide office: Oliver North for the U.S. Senate in 1994 and Mike Farris for lieutenant governor in 1993.
Warner's actions have become a key issue in the campaign to win the June 11 Republican primary election against Jim Miller, a former federal budget director.
About 3,000 GOP activists, many of them openly hostile toward Warner, are expected to attend the convention May 31 through June 2 in Salem.
Eric Peterson, a spokesman for the senator, said Warner will attend the May convention and sponsor a reception for delegates. But Peterson said Warner will not deliver a podium speech.
"The senator has determined that there is no need to speak," Peterson said, adding that the purpose of the meeting is to elect delegates to the Republican national convention this summer and that a stump speech by Warner would be out of place.
Miller, who has been openly courting party activists and attacking Warner's loyalty to the party, plans to speak at the convention.
"I don't think Warner has the guts to go out there on the floor," said Bill Kling, a spokesman for Miller.
LENGTH: Short : 42 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS CONGRESSby CNB