ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, October 11, 1996 TAG: 9610110065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
U.S. Sen. John Warner, moving to regain footing after his first re-election stumble, took full responsibility Thursday for a hard-hitting commercial that featured a bogus photograph of his opponent.
Warner severed ties with Greg Stevens & Co., a media consultant that produced the 30-second ad, and ordered the spot withdrawn from television stations that had begun airing it Tuesday.
While he said he must accept responsibility as the head of his campaign, Warner disavowed any knowledge that his media consulting firm had tampered with the photograph until late Wednesday.
"This was a serious, terrible mistake," he said at hastily arranged news conferences in Virginia Beach and Richmond. "I was not responsible in any other way than that I engaged this firm, and for that I take full responsibility."
His swift response stole some thunder from Democratic challenger Mark Warner, who flew into Hampton Roads Airport with a bellyfull of indignation.
Unbeknownst to Mark Warner, two of his top demands - that John Warner fire his media consultant and apologize - had been met before his airplane landed.
The apology did not soothe Mark Warner, who insisted many unanswered questions remained about John Warner's role.
"No political talk can cover up the fact that this was a blatant attempt to deceive the people," he said.
Though "Photogate" is hardly the stuff of a major political scandal, Democrats hope it will generate enough heat to galvanize party faithful behind Mark Warner.
A poll released Thursday underscored how the 41-year-old cellular telephone mogul has yet to solidify his Democratic base. Democrat-leaning voters were as likely to support Republican John Warner, according to a Virginia Commonwealth University poll conducted Oct. 2-9.
The poll suggested many Democrats want to reward John Warner for breaking with his party two years ago and opposing Iran-Contra figure Oliver North's run for the U.S. Senate.
Ironically, the doctored photograph dates to an important moment in the 1994 Senate race between North and Democratic incumbent Charles Robb.
The actual photograph showed President Clinton presiding over a truce-sealing handshake between two rival Virginia Democrats, former Gov. Douglas Wilder and Robb. Mark Warner stood behind Robb.
In altering the photo, John Warner's media consultant placed Mark Warner's head atop Robb's body to make it appear Wilder was gripping Mark Warner's hand.
"I'm proud of my friendship with Doug Wilder and proud of the fact that I supported President Clinton. I'm not ashamed to be in that picture at all," Mark Warner said.
"But this is something like what would appear in a British tabloid - like Princess Di, just this past week.
"This from a man who claims he's a man of principle."
Meanwhile, Wilder seethed that the John Warner ad sought to demonize him as one of the nation's "most liberal politicians."
Wilder, the nation's first black elected governor, suggested the John Warner ad used "liberal" as a racial code word.
John Warner denied any such intent. "I'm astonished that Doug Wilder would bring that up," he said.
Wilder, whose 11th-hour endorsement helped lead Robb to a come-from-behind victory over North, said reprising that moment of the 1994 campaign could prove to be a turning point this year.
"I don't understand why a guy who is so far up in the polls feels he has stoop to this," Wilder said. "It could boomerang and may be that one thing that could show exactly who you are dealing with."
At his Richmond press conference, John Warner was asked if he thought the photo would hurt his image as a straight-shooter.
"Only time will tell," he said. "But I'm confident that I still can batten down the hatches and sail straight into the storm and win this election."
Staff writers Robert Little and Susie Stoughton contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshots) 1. M. Warner. 2. J. Warner. color. KEYWORDS: POLITICS CONGRESSby CNB