ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030011
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DEMOCRAT MARK WARNER says his wealth makes it difficult for him to raise money.
The campaign finance headline of the Warner vs. Warner contest reads: "John taps special interests; Mark digs into own pocket."
A computer analysis of campaign finances in the U.S. Senate race in Virginia confirms this basic story line - and yields a few surprises.
U.S. Sen. John Warner is the third-largest recipient of money from political action committees among Senate candidates this year. His seniority (18 years) and prime committees (Agriculture, Armed Services, Transportation) make him attractive to corporate interests.
His PAC contributors include the National Cotton Council, Florida Sugar Cane League, Lockheed Corp. and General Dynamics.
Although business interests are limited to giving no more than $5,000 to PACs and $2,000 to candidates, several employees of businesses backing John Warner also have contributed to his campaign. Combined, John Warner has collected:
*$43,950 from employees of two clothes makers headed by Linda J. Wachner of New York. John Warner said Wachner is a close friend. "Neither she nor her company have ever come to me on a legislative matter," he said.
*$19,000 from executives at Newport News Shipbuilding, a major Virginia employer.
*$18,000 from employees and family members of South Florida sugar baron Jose "Pepe" Fanjul.
Democrat Mark Warner keeps his challenge of John Warner flush with checks drawn upon his personal checking account, which is backed by a cellular telephone fortune of at least $100million.
Mark Warner has criticized the Republican for taking so much money from special interests. The catch-line in a Mark Warner TV commercial is: "John Warner - plenty of time to listen to the special interests and the lobbyists, but not enough time to listen to us."
However, John Warner's fund-raising base is grounded more in Virginia than Mark Warner's supporters, campaign finance reports show.
John Warner got 61 percent of his individual contributions from Virginians through June 30, the most recent reporting period. Forty percent of Mark Warner's individual contributions came from Virginians.
John Warner commands the loyalty of "Main Street" business leaders in the Roanoke Valley. John Warner has raised $41,755 in the region, compared with $2,790 for Mark Warner. Business leaders banking on John Warner include George Cartledge Jr., Grand Piano Furniture, $500; Thomas L. Robertson, Carilion Health Systems, $2,000; and Glenn O. Thornhill Jr., Maid Bess Corp., $2,000.
Mark Warner said his wealth makes it difficult for him to raise money. The Democrat said supporters who might be willing to contribute figure he can simply write himself another check. He footed three-quarters of the cost of his campaign through June.
His personal funds have allowed him to buy $3million worth of TV advertising in the summer.
Mark Warner is in no danger of becoming another Michael Huffington, the California financier who put $28million of his own money in a losing Senate campaign two years ago. But it's not inconceivable that he could end up spending $8million or more.
His friends in the mobile telecommunications industry have been his most reliable contributors. Most of these backers live outside Virginia and work for companies such as Sygnet, Skywire and Globatel.
"It's like a family network, and all these people know Mark," said Anita Rimler, his campaign manager.
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart by staff: Who's paying for this campaign. KEYWORDS: MGR POLITICS CONGRESSby CNB