ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603060084
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Republican Sen. John Warner and his primary challenger, Jim Miller, won't be holding their first debate before a GOP women's group Friday.
The Virginia Federation of Republican Women canceled the debate at the College of William and Mary after Miller insisted that Warner agree to four more debates, said Jane Smith, president of the Republican women's group.
``He wanted the senator to agree to four more or else he wasn't coming to our debate. So that's the reason there isn't a debate because he won't come,'' Smith said Tuesday. ``I think he has snubbed the Republican women.''
Miller said Warner was to blame.
``Warner's strategy was to debate just one time only - this Friday - and then to duck any further debates that would have been informative and meaningful to Virginia voters before the June 11 primary,'' Miller said.
Miller's campaign spokesman, Bill Kling, said Smith is a Warner supporter, but she said she has not endorsed a candidate.
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS CONGRESSby CNB