THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 18, 1996 TAG: 9608180105
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NANCY LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 53 lines
U.S. Sen. John W. Warner predicted Saturday that Republicans would quickly pull ``neck and neck'' in the race for the presidency now that the nomination of his old friend Bob Dole is clinched.
The incumbent Republican made his remarks at the first India Fest held at Old Dominion University, one stop on his weeklong campaign tour of 25 Virginia locales.
After he'd tasted a bit of Indian cuisine, Warner was off to hike a Virginia Beach neighborhood, going door to door to shake hands, then off to Northern Virginia.
He hopes to keep the seat he has held for 18 years when he faces Democratic challenger Mark R. Warner at the polls in November. The two men are not related, but because they have the same last name, they are campaigning extra-hard to distinguish themselves in the minds of voters.
They don't want folks to get confused about who's who when they vote. Warner and Warner have already gone head-to-head in one debate and soon will face each other again.
With Jack Kemp's confirmation as Dole's running mate, Republicans undoubtedly will ``win Virginia,'' Sen. Warner said Saturday.
And nationwide, voters realize that the Republican agenda is ``common-sense, conservative legislation,'' he said.
As far as his opponent goes, the senator said, ``He has liberal associations but won't acknowledge them. He's hiding because he fears Virginia is not ready, and Virginia is not ready for this man.''
Officials for Mark Warner's campaign could not be reached for comment Saturday.
In a short speech, Sen. Warner lauded the Indian community's contribution to U.S. medicine, an area of service for which, he said, he feels a special affinity since his own father was a surgeon and gynecologist.
``If I'd had enough brains,'' he quipped, ``I'd have been a doctor, but I came up short.''
In fact, he felt quite at home in Norfolk, he said, because of his stint in the Navy. He also has served as secretary of the Navy.
Girls and women in colorful, flowing saris and men in pale ``kurta'' pajamas prepared and served ethnic dishes like ``samosa'' (potato and vegetable triangles) and ``jelebi'' (a dessert) at the afternoon festival.
Asian Indians of Hampton Roads sponsored the event, seeking greater unity among the estimated 2,000 Asian Indians in the area. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Republican Sen. John Warner, running against Mark Warner, spoke
Saturday as part of India Fest, at ODU.
KEYWORDS: REPUBLICAN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL RACE 1996
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