THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 15, 1995 TAG: 9501150105
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
U.S. Sen. John W. Warner began efforts this weekend to mend his rocky relationship with the state Republican Party, only to learn that some GOP leaders just don't want to be his friend.
Warner, who outraged Republican leaders by endorsing independent J. Marshall Coleman in last year's U.S. Senate race, received a chilly reception at a three-day business meeting attended by about 700 GOP loyalists.
At a banquet Friday night, state GOP Chairman Patrick McSweeney omitted Warner's name from a list of politicians he introduced. Irritated by the slight, Warner abruptly left the banquet.
``I didn't know he was in the room,'' McSweeney said later. ``But to be honest, had I known, I don't think I would've introduced him,'' McSweeney added, explaining that the senator would have been roundly booed.
Earlier Friday, Warner said at a seminar that the GOP always loses statewide elections when it nominates political newcomers such as Oliver L. North, the party's unsuccessful 1994 Senate candidate. Why doesn't the party take that into account when it selects candidates, he asked.
``Why don't you get stabbed in the back by a senior Republican?'' replied an activist in the front of the room. Many in the room applauded.
For GOP officials, even choosing where to eat breakfast Saturday morning came down to making a political statement about Warner.
There were two free buffets. One was sponsored by Warner, the other by GOP leaders openly critical of Warner - including McSweeney, North and former lieutenant governor candidate Michael P. Farris, who billed themselves as a unity group.
The anti-Warner breakfast drew about two-thirds of those attending the weekend event.
``Frankly, we were just going to have a small event until we learned that the senator planned to have a big breakfast,'' said Doug Domenech, an adviser to Farris. ``A lot of people said we couldn't let that happen, that we had to show the senator how much dissent there is. We can't let him have anything for free. He represents everything a Republican shouldn't do.''
Although unity was the theme of the Republican meeting, some GOP leaders said they are hoping to deny the party nomination to Warner in 1996, when he is expected to seek his fourth term in the Senate. Many conservatives said Warner has three strikes against him: voting against the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation of Robert Bork in 1987, refusing to endorse Farris in 1993 and opposing North in 1994.
``Warner disgusts me,'' said Mary Griggs of Norfolk. ``If it wasn't for him, we'd have Oliver North in the Senate right now.''
Finding a candidate who could defeat Warner in the 1996 primary may be a problem. Farris and North have said they will not run.
James C. Miller III, a former federal budget chief, said he is considering running, but many Republican activists question whether he could raise enough funds to threaten Warner.
``The senator has been disloyal to party and to principle,'' Farris said.
``Someone will give him a clean, honest fight in the primary and we'll see what happens. If we lose, we'll support the party's nominee.''
Warner, for his part, offered no apologies. ``I've been elected to the U.S. Senate three times,'' he said. ``My opponents here have run for office but haven't won.''
Warner's supporters said they were outraged by the snubs. ``It showed a lack of good manners not to introduce the senator at dinner,'' said Mary Vaugan Gibson of Richmond. ``That's a common courtesy that's always extended to elected officials.''
Added Donald Moseley, a Southside party member: ``I like John Warner because I like winners. These party leaders who are whining are losers and there's nothing they can do but be petty.''
Kevin Gentry of Fairfax had no sympathy for the senator: ``We're just fed up with his treachery.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Warner
KEYWORDS: REPUBLICAN PARTY VIRGINIA by CNB