THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 11, 1995 TAG: 9504110331
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
Embattled U.S. Sen. John W. Warner trotted out some heavy ammunition Monday night to fire the first shot of his 1996 re-election campaign: former President George Bush.
Speaking to about 400 Republicans at a gala fund-raising dinner organized by Warner, Bush endorsed the three-term incumbent as a ``sound, sensible and conscientious conservative voice in the Senate, and he must be re-elected in my view.''
Bush's appearance drew a hail of protest from leaders of the state GOP's conservative wing, who are irate over Warner's refusal to support two recent party nominees and have vowed to oppose the senator's efforts to win nomination next year.
About a dozen conservative activists toting ``Dump Warner'' placards protested outside the Marriott hotel, site of the dinner. Among the GOP leaders who refused to be associated with the event and unsuccessfully tried to dissuade Bush from coming was state party chairman Patrick McSweeney.
``I felt it was a real kick in the teeth to find he was coming,'' McSweeney said.
Although Gov. George F. Allen attended the dinner, he refrained from endorsing Warner or even mentioning him by name in his speech. Allen said he was present to show his support for Republican candidates running in this fall's legislative elections.
Warner, 68, declined to comment on his differences with the party. In 1993 he refused to back GOP lieutenant governor nominee Michael P. Farris, an evangelical lawyer. Last year, he denounced U.S. Senate nominee Oliver L. North as a liar and strongly backed an independent candidate.
But Warner offered an olive branch Monday by pledging half of the proceeds from Bush's appearance to GOP General Assembly candidates. Sponsors said the $500-a-plate dinner raised about $200,000.
About half of the Republican members of the General Assembly attended the dinner. Several who said they have been upset by Warner's defections acknowledged that the money may go a long way in healing relationships. Republicans need gain only three seats in the House and Senate to control the legislature for the first time in state history.
``I'm not happy at all about some of John Warner's decisions not to support some people who I thought would be great standard bearers for the party,'' said Del. Robert F. McDonnell, R-Virginia Beach, who still is stopping short of endorsing the senator.
``But I forgive him and am ready to move on.''
The $100,000 or so GOP candidates will reap from the event will be given to the General Assembly's Republican Caucus. That's 40 percent of the total amount the caucus raised in 1991, the last time all 140 legislative seats were up for grabs.
Warner has outraged conservative party leaders by invoking a little-known state law to insist on a primary election next spring. Many GOP honchos were hoping for a convention, where the wrath of several thousand Republican activists may be enough to deny Warner the nomination. There may be a legal challenge to the primary.
To date, Warner has one announced Republican opponent - former federal budget director James C. Miller III. McSweeney is considering running and Warner dared him to enter the fray.
``Nothing would please me more then to have Pat McSweeney enter the race, and I hereby challenge him tonight to get in the race,'' Warner said during a news conference prior to the dinner. ``Let's have a good strong primary.''
Bush, a longtime personal friend of Warner's, declined to comment on the controversy. ``I don't give interviews,'' he told reporters. ``I used to do it. I don't have to do it anymore.''
The former president, appearing tan and relaxed, is scheduled to speak at today's dedication of the expanded visitors center at the Yorktown battlefield.
Bush praised Warner for steadfastly supporting his decision to invade Iraq in 1991.
Warner distributed to his dinner guests copies of a Senate resolution authorizing the invasion, which he helped write.
Many of Warner's supporters lauded him as a man who puts personal principles before party loyalty. ``I respect people who have the courage to express views and stick with them when the expedient thing would be to go along with the crowd,'' said Richard Sharp, chairman of the Circuit City electronics retailer.
McSweeney, however, said that Warner's defections have hurt. ``It's impossible to build a strong party if our members are not prepared to back the outcome of our nominating process,'' he said.
Warner refused to reply. ``These things are not worthy of a response,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photos]
Sen. John Warner has rankled the GOP by snubbing two candidates.
Former President Bush praised Warner as a ``sensible''
conservative.
KEYWORDS: FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN FINANCE U.S. SENATE RACE by CNB