THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 23, 1996 TAG: 9609210505
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: Decision 96
LENGTH: 119 lines
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL I: JOHN WARNER UNVEILS FIRST TV AD
U.S. Sen. John Warner employs no slick MTV editing or sonorous soundtrack in a 30-second television ad that answers attacks from Democratic challenger Mark Warner.
The 69-year-old senator simply talks into the camera, an intimate setting designed to create the feeling that John Warner is someone Virginians know and trust.
``Virginians want the truth,'' John Warner said. ``After spending $4 million on TV ads, Mark Warner is desperate. His ads are factually wrong.
``He knows - and the record proves - I voted to increase funding for Medicare, education and school lunches.''
Which of the Warners is telling the truth?
It depends on perspective.
It's true that a 1995 Republican budget, which John Warner supported, called for an increase in Medicare funding. But it's also true the GOP plan would have slowed the rate of growth, cutting the extra funds available for Medicare by $270 billion over seven years.
In other words, John Warner would have increased Medicare spending, but by a smaller amount than had been projected.
The John Warner TV spot - his first of the general election season - seeks to settle the question by drawing upon his 18-year standing with voters. It started airing in all major Virginia TV markets Friday.
``My votes are common-sense conservative,'' he says. ``So when you see one of Mark's negatives ads, ask yourself: ``Which Warner has a proven record of standing up for the truth?''
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL II:
MARK WARNER RECALLS PRAYING IN SCHOOL
Mark Warner drew upon an unpleasant memory to explain his opposition to organized prayer in public schools.
Warner, 41, recalled how his Indiana school started each day with a Bible verse until a landmark Supreme Court decision in 1963.
Then, he said, the school system responded by asking parents for permission to excuse students from class once a week to study Christianity in a mobile classroom set up next to the school.
Warner, who was raised Presbyterian, said he forgot to bring his permission slip from home and found himself left behind in a fourth-grade classroom with a Jewish child and another kid.
``It was like, `Did I do something wrong?' The next week I had my parents sign that damn thing and I was out of there,'' Warner said, speaking to Virginia Tech students.
Warner said he would never support organized prayer in public schools. ``I have too many memories of that day,'' he said.
RICH AND RICHER
Tax records show that both Warners rank among the nation's wealthy elite.
John Warner's tax return, released last week, shows he earned $653,934 last year and paid $184,845 in taxes. His federal tax burden equaled 28 percent of his adjusted gross income.
He reported salary and wages of $126,920 and investment income of $516,217.
Mark Warner has filed for extensions for filing his 1995 tax returns. But Warner has filed documents estimating his income at $11 million and taxes at $3.4 million. If that holds, his federal tax burden would equal about 30 percent of his adjusted gross income.
Mark Warner is an investor in several mobile communications companies. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
John Warner
Mark Warner
Chart
BY THE NUMBERS
How they stand
NOW....
POLL RESULTS of registered Virginia voters, Sept. 14-18:
John Warner 54 percent
Mark Warner 34 percent
Undecided 12 percent
SOURCE: Statewide poll of 809 registered voters conducted Sept.
14-18 for The Virginian-Pilot by Mason-Dixon Political/Media
Research Inc. Margin of error: 3.5 points.
THEN....
Statewide poll in July
John Warner 53 percent
Mark Warner 28 percent
Undecided 19 percent
Source: Statewide poll by Mason-Dixon in July.
PUBLIC APPEARANCES IN HAMPTON ROADS
Friday, Sept. 27 - MARK WARNER appears at Norfolk State University
at noon. Location to be announced.
Events are tentative. Please contact the campaigns to confirm
locations and times.
HOW TO REACH THE CAMPAIGNS
John Warner
Telephone: 703/549-9696
Web site: http://www.warner96.com/
E-mail: warner warner96.com
Mark Warner
Telephone: 1-800-637-mark and 804-342-1996
Web site: http://www.markwarner96.org/
E-mail: info markwarner96.org
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Election Day is Nov. 5
Deadline for Voter Registration is Monday, Oct. 7 by CNB