THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 4, 1996 TAG: 9606040294
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: GUY FRIDDELL
LENGTH: 58 lines
In a news conference in Norfolk Monday night, U.S. Sen. John Warner said that his opponent, James C. Miller III, indulged in ``an act of desperation'' in objecting to Bob Dole's campaigning with Warner in Virginia this week.
Warner and Miller are competing for the U.S. Senate nomination in a June 11 Republican primary.
After a unity breakfast in Roanoke Sunday following Saturday's GOP state convention, Miller said Dole is making a mistake to come to Virginia to campaign for Warner.
Dole risks hurting himself because Warner is unpopular among Republican activists, Miller said, citing his own 76 percent victory in a straw poll of delegates Saturday.
``I can't understand why Jim Miller poses a threat to Bob Dole's campaign if Senator Dole reaffirms his earlier endorsement to me,'' Warner said before attending a fund-raiser in the Omni Hotel.
``If Jim Miller had a problem with that, why didn't he mention it three weeks ago when Dole endorsed me?'' Warner asked. ``Why did he wait until the eve of a visit by our nominee to Virginia?''
Asked for reaction to Miller's allusions to Warner's supporters in the U.S. Senate as the Old Boys Club, Warner replied, ``He can say whatever he wants to about it. If he feels so uncomfortable about it, why does he want to join the club?''
At Warner's side for the fund-raiser was U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who serves with Warner on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
``One of the reasons we love Bob Dole so much is he's loyal to his friends,'' McCain said.
Of Oliver L. North's endorsement of Miller at Saturday's convention, McCain commented, ``The only thing that says to me is that we can disagree.
``I respect Oliver North's views, but I would allege that I have had a much closer relationship and therefore much more knowledge of John Warner than Mr. North does, or, frankly, some other people who also have served in the military.''
``I'm also pleased to note that the overwhelming majority of those who have have served in the military support Senator Warner.''
McCain said he had no animosity to anyone who hadn't served, ``but the stark reality is that fewer and fewer members of Congress have had military experience.
``We have gone from a very, very dangerous but very predictable world to a much less dangerous and much less predictable world. I believe that the kind of experience that John Warner brings in national security issues to the Senate and the nation is absolutely essential.''
Warner stressed the importance of people voting June 11. Many don't realize there's a primary, he said. Because there is no party registration in Virginia, anyone can vote in a primary election. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
Sen. John Warner: Why does Miller want to join an ``Old Boys Club?''
Sen. John McCain was at his colleague Warner's side at a Saturday
fund-raiser. by CNB