ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611050003
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: VOTER'S GUIDE
SOURCE: ROBERT LITTLE STAFF WRITER
JOHN WARNER
Party: Republican
Residence: Alexandria
Occupation: Lawyer
Background: Elected to Senate in 1978
Campaign office: (703) 549-9696
MARK WARNER
Party: Democrat
Residence: Alexandria
Occupation: Lawyer; telecommunications investor
Background: Former state party chairman; first try for elected office
Campaign office: (804) 342-1996
INCUMBENT Republican John Warner is seeking a fourth term, touting his seniority in a Republican-majority Congress and his No. 2 position on the Armed Services Committee as political boons for the state.
Challenger Mark Warner - no relation to his opponent - is seeking his first elected office, promising a fresh voice and modern perspective at a time when the nation's economy is becoming increasingly high-tech.
Money has been a campaign issue from the start. Mark Warner, 41, spends his own - more than $5 million by October. Former chairman of the state Democratic Party, he has earned more than $100 million in the cellular phone business.
John Warner spends other people's money - he has raised more political action committee dollars than all but a handful of U.S. senators. The 69-year-old senator served in both the Navy and Marine Corps, was Secretary of the Navy under Richard Nixon, and has always made military affairs a focus.
The money of the nation also has been a dominant theme. Both candidates are at their most pointed when debating the state of the economy and plans to bring federal spending under control.
John Warner sides with Republicans, talking about tax breaks and defense spending. Mark Warner sides with President Clinton, promising much of the same but in more moderation.
Even before John Warner opposed Republican Oliver North's bid for the Senate in 1994, he was one of Virginia's most popular politicians. So far this year, polls suggest that image has held.
But a faked photo in early October ensured the race a little national scrutiny despite the odds.
A John Warner television advertisement, considered his first foray of the year into negative campaigning, featured a fabricated photograph of his opponent and Clinton. The original photograph showed Democratic Sen. Charles Robb shaking the president's hand. Mark Warner's head was digitally superimposed.
John Warner apologized and pulled the ad off the air, accepting responsibility but blaming his media producer for the deception.
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 2 headshots. color. KEYWORDS: POLITICS CONGRESSby CNB