Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 24, 1995 TAG: 9501240118
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALEC KLEIN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Warner, a Republican, won the approval of 55 percent of 809 registered voters surveyed statewide - higher than Gov. George Allen's 48 percent in a poll last week and U.S. Sen. Charles Robb's 46 percent in the November election.
Warner's approval numbers - in recent years as high as 69 percent - have stayed remarkably steady since September, despite his open opposition to Oliver North, the GOP 1994 nominee for the U.S. Senate.
The senator has also weathered the fury of conservatives who blamed him for not backing home-schooling champion Mike Farris, also a Republican, in his failed bid for lieutenant governor in 1993.
Warner ``really has not been scathed by the parting of ways with the religious right and with the squabble with Oliver North,'' said Del Ali, vice president of Maryland-based Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research Inc., which conducted the poll from Jan. 16-18.
The survey, which has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points, was conducted for several news organizations, including the Roanoke Times & World-News and WDBJ (Channel 7).
Warner is viewed ``as a gentleman, a Virginia gentleman, I might add, and a statesman,'' Ali said. ``Democrats like him, Republicans like him.''
Well, not all Republicans.
``I don't put much stock in polling right now,'' said state Republican Chairman Patrick McSweeney, echoing other GOP party leaders disaffected with Warner. Warner "has not really had close scrutiny of his record, so a whole lot of things could change. It's not a safe seat.''
Indeed, Warner's favorable rating drops 10 points and his unfavorables rise 5 points among voters who say they will vote in next year's Republican nominating process.
In a Republican contest with Jim Miller, a former Reagan administration budget director, Warner clings to a narrow lead - 41 percent to 36 percent.
Perhaps more troubling to the senator is that 43 percent said they would consider another candidate and 15 percent would replace him.
Warner, however, won strong overall support in virtually every region across the state. He also did well against potential rivals to his Senate seat.
In a matchup with former Democratic Gov. Douglas Wilder, Warner led 53 percent to 33 percent. In a three-way contest among Warner, Wilder and Miller, Warner won again.
``I just hope Virginia Republicans keep their eye on the goal, which is to keep this Senate seat Republican,'' said Susan Magill, Warner's chief of staff.
by CNB