THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230415
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY WARREN FISKE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 34 lines
U.S. Sen. John W. Warner, facing harsh criticism for being disloyal to the Virginia Republican Party, turned down an invitation to speak at the GOP's state convention next month.
``I'm just amazed,'' fumed David S. Johnson, executive director of the state GOP. ``You would think he would want to provide people with an explanation.''
Many party activists have been enraged at Warner for refusing to support two recent nominees for statewide office: Oliver L. North for the U.S. Senate in 1994 and Michael P. Farris for lieutenant governor in 1993.
Warner's actions have become a key issue in the campaign to win the June 11 Republican primary election against James C. Miller III, a former federal budget director.
About 3,000 GOP activists, many of them openly hostile to Warner, are expected to attend the convention May 31 through June 2 in Salem.
Eric Peterson, a spokesman for the senator, said Warner will attend the convention on May 31 and sponsor a reception for delegates. But Peterson said Warner will not deliver a podium speech.
``The senator has determined that there is no need to speak,'' Peterson said, adding that the purpose of the meeting is to elect delegates to the Republican national convention this summer and that a stump speech by Warner would be out of place.
Miller, who has been openly courting party activists and attacking Warner's loyalty to the party, plans to speak at the convention.
KEYWORDS: REPUBLICAN PARTY VIRGINIA STATE SENATE RACE
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