THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 6, 1995 TAG: 9512060460
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Former federal budget director James C. Miller III launched his 1996 campaign for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday by committing himself to conservative principles and denouncing incumbent John W. Warner as a Clinton Republican.
Miller, who lost the 1994 GOP Senate nomination to Oliver L. North, pledged to support ``optimum use'' of school vouchers, term limits and a flat tax. He vowed to oppose ``all tax increases of every description.''
Miller, 53, said he will not try to influence a decision slated to be made by state GOP leaders this weekend on whether to nominate a candidate by a primary election or a state convention.
A native of Georgia, Miller has lived in McLean, Va., for about 10 years. He served as federal budget director under Reagan from 1985 to 1988. Since then, he has lectured and authored several economic books and has chaired Citizens for a Sound Economy, an advocacy group promoting conservative fiscal principles.
Miller ran an aggressive campaign for the GOP nomination last year but was unable to overcome North's personal popularity. He angered many conservatives by challenging North's character and tacitly questioning North's mental health history.
Miller's hopes for the nomination hinge on his ability to capitalize on conservatives' deep dislike of Warner. The senator enraged many right-wing leaders by opposing North's candidacy and, in 1993, refusing to support the GOP's Michael P. Farris for lieutenant governor.
Warner also has angered conservatives by favoring abortion rights and opposing Robert Bork's nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987. Miller opposes all abortions except when a mother's life is endangered by a pregnancy.
``Warner and I differ over philosophy,'' said Miller, during a luncheon speech to about 80 Richmond-area supporters. ``I am a true Reagan conservative who will fight Bill Clinton and stand up for the taxpayers and families of Virginia. Last year, John Warner voted with Bill Clinton 60 percent of the time.''
Warner dismissed Miller's charges that he is liberal, pointing out that Miller's advocacy group last year gave him an award for a 100 percent voting record on fiscal conservatism. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
James C. Miller III
by CNB