THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995 TAG: 9512050317
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
U.S. Sen. John W. Warner began flexing his financial muscles Monday by kicking off a series of re-election fund raisers that are drawing some of the biggest names in Virginia business.
``These events are important,'' Warner said. ``I think a campaign is judged in many ways on its financial strength. If you're asking people to invest in you, you have to show that you have the tools to win.''
Warner, 68, faces a challenge for the Republican nomination next year from James C. Miller III, a former Reagan administration federal budget chief. Miller is scheduled to start touring the state today to launch his campaign.
About 60 businessmen paid $500 a head to attend a noon luncheon in Richmond with Warner. Among the senator's benefactors were Bruce C. Gottwald, chairman of Ethyl Corp., Richard L. Sharp, chairman of Circuit City, and James C. Wheat III, a prominent stockbroker.
The display seems to indicate that much of Virginia's Main Street business community is unconcerned with Warner's tiff with Virginia's Republican Party. Warner angered conservative GOP leaders by refusing to support two GOP candidates for statewide office in recent years.
Warner was accompanied in Richmond by U.S. Sen. Peter V. Domenici, R-N.M., chairman of the Senate budget committee. Domenici praised Warner as a reliable fiscal conservative who has strongly insisted on balancing the federal budget in seven years during recent debate with Democrats.
Warner declined to withdraw a threat that he may run as an independent if the state party refuses to heed his demand for a primary election next year. GOP leaders are scheduled to meet Saturday to vote on whether to hold a primary or a state convention.
``We shall await the outcome,'' Warner said. ``I'm hopeful people will see that a primary would strengthen the party.''
On Monday night, Warner was scheduled to hold a fund raiser in Roanoke. His guest speaker was slated to be U.S. Sen. John Chaffee, R-R.I.
Warner has scheduled a Dec. 11 fund raiser in Norfolk with U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo. In addition, he has planned events in Charlottesville and Northern Virginia.
According to campaign finance reports filed last July, Warner raised $867,000 during the first half of this year and had a balance of $726,000 on hand. Miller had raised $76,000 during the same period and spent all but $7,500 of it.
KEYWORDS: CAMPAIGN FINANCE U.S. SENATE RACE FUND RAISING by CNB