THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 2, 1996 TAG: 9603020284
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE: LEXINGTON, VA. LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
He may be under attack by the party hierarchy at home in Virginia, but that hasn't stopped the national Republican establishment from rushing to defend Sen. John W. Warner as he tries to fend off an aggressive conservative primary challenge.
Former Vice President Dan Quayle, the latest GOP heavy-hitter to rally behind Warner, flew here Friday to endorse the three-term incumbent at a boisterous rally at Warner's alma mater, Washington and Lee University. As the early champion of ``family values,'' Quayle represents an important prize for Warner as he tries to burnish his own conservative credentials.
``John Warner is a man of great leadership abilities,'' Quayle told a crowd of 200 students and other supporters outside the chapel where Robert E. Lee is buried. ``John Warner is a man of character. John Warner has made a difference in the United States Senate.''
Quayle joins his former boss, George Bush, and a bevy of administration and Senate colleagues in helping Warner in his fight to win the GOP nomination on June 11. Others to endorse or contribute money to Warner include retired general Colin L. Powell, former Cabinet secretaries Henry Kissinger, Dick Cheney, Al Haig and James Schlesinger, and fellow Republican Sens. John H. Chafee of Rhode Island, Alfonse M. D'Amato of New York, Alan K. Simpson of Wyoming and Trent Lott of Mississippi.
But in relying on endorsements from established leaders, Warner risks the same problem suffered by his friend Bob Dole in the presidential race: allowing opponents to portray him as a creature of Washington who doesn't represent the people.
His primary opponent, James C. Miller III, took that tack Friday in responding to Quayle's announcement, even though Miller is hardly an outsider, having worked for years in the Reagan administration, including his service as federal budget director.
``I can't read Mr. Quayle's mind, obviously, but I think this has very little to do with ideology and very much to do with the Old Bulls of the Senate'' sticking together, Miller spokesman William H. Kling said. ``Most of John Warner's endorsements are coming from outside of Virginia, from the establishment north of the Potomac.''
Warner, though, didn't shrink from his connections Friday. ``Listen,'' he said, ``I'm what I am and I've been in public office for a lot of years.'' by CNB