THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 12, 1996 TAG: 9603120011
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Warner The Democrat is officially off and running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Virginia's three-term incumbent, Warner The Republican.
The Harvard-educated, self-made millionaire with the given name Mark is rooting his campaign against the other Warner, John, in issues raised by the societal-and-economic upheaval that made him a fortune: the information age. A cellular-phone pioneer who has branched into other high-tech enterprises, Mark Warner may be the first major Virginia candidate to include an e-mail address and World Wide Web site on his campaign literature.
Assuming he survives the nomination test against former U.S. Rep. Leslie Byrne, Warner will bring to the race his bankroll, his business ingenuity and skill and a reputation for creating order out of political chaos. He is credited with shoring up former Gov. Doug Wilder's 1989 campaign and with helping a demoralized Democratic Party regroup after its 1993 gubernatorial debacle.
In his kickoff Monday, Warner spoke of ``harnessing the power of changing technologies and a changing economy in a way that benefits the working people of our commonwealth.'' It is clearly the test of our times. Warner correctly recognizes that the same forces that catapulted him to the good life have left millions of others anxious and uncertain about the future. His challenge will be to articulate to them a vision compelling enough to warrant the ouster of a well-regarded incumbent.
Equally challenging will be explaining to the ordinary Virginian what entitles Warner to start at the top - except for the obvious, his bank account. No matter that the other Warner also used personal wealth as a springboard to office, voters have become more skeptical of late. Former California senatorial hopeful Michael Huffington and presidential aspirant Steve Forbes are but two recent examples of how money can buy attention, but not always office.
A man of proven skills, Mark Warner faces an uphill battle in winning the hearts of thousands of Virginia who know little about him beyond his name and the color of his cash. by CNB