THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, June 10, 1996 TAG: 9606100040
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: DECISION 96
LENGTH: 49 lines
THE FARRIS FACTOR
John W. Warner has never fully explained his reservations about Mike Farris, a former organizer of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority and a leading national critic of public schools. At the time, Warner said simply that he did not know Farris well enough to endorse him.
Many Republicans say Warner's snub of Farris symbolizes the senator's coolness toward the dominant Christian conservative wing of the state GOP. Over the years, Warner has alienated many evangelical Christians by sometimes supporting abortion rights and by opposing the 1987 U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Robert H. Bork.
``What was it in his conscience that prevented him from supporting Mike Farris?'' said former state Republican chairman Donald H. Huffman of Roanoke. ``He can't come out and explain that without alienating a large portion of the party?''
Warner refuses to even try. ``There's enough history already out there,'' he said.
Farris blames Warner for his defeat by Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr. But political scientists say it is unlikely that Warner's support would have overcome the 9-percentage-point margin of Farris' defeat.
THE NORTH FACTOR
The senator actively opposed Oliver North, whom he described as dishonest during the Iran-Contra affair and ``unfit'' for office.
Ironically, Warner initially backed Miller, who unsuccessfully opposed North for the nomination at the 1994 state convention.
Miller, in that unsuccessful bid for the nomination, labeled North a ``fraud,'' and tacitly questioned his mental health.
That fall, however, Miller vigorously campaigned for North.
``I did it for three reasons,'' Miller said. ``One, it was a promise I made to the party. Two, it was the right thing to do. And three, Oliver North would still be a better senator than (Democrat) Chuck Robb.''
While Miller stood by North, Warner recruited and strongly supported the independent candidacy of J. Marshall Coleman.
Political scientists says it's an open question whether Coleman, who drew 11.4 percent of the vote, ultimately caused North's defeat. He lost to Sen. Charles S. Robb by 2.7 percentage points. Exit polls suggest that without Coleman, a two-way race would have been a toss-up.
- Warren Fiske MEMO: [Related story on page A1.] by CNB