THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 28, 1996 TAG: 9608280431
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: CHICAGO LENGTH: 38 lines
Mark Warner, the fabulously wealthy Virginia Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, came breezing through Chicago Tuesday in search of - gasp, of all things - money.
Warner took a one-day hiatus from his campaign travels around Virginia to pay fund-raising calls on a host of Democratic benefactors from across the country gathered in the Windy City this week.
``You guys are so quick to point out my net worth in every story,'' he quipped to a group of Virginia reporters, ``that its easier to go to other parts of the country to appeal for funds.''
Warner, 41, is a cellular telephone magnate who estimates his personal wealth in excess of $100 million. He's spent at least $2.3 million of that fortune bankrolling his campaign. Those personal contributions accounted for more than 75 percent of the money raised by Warner's campaign, according to a July report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Warner declined to say whether he'll continue financing the bulk of his campaign. ``I'm not focused on that right now,'' he said. ``I'm focused on finishing my tour of all 135 jurisdictions in the state by Labor Day. I have only six left.''
Warner received a rousing ovation during a brief breakfast speech before the Virginia delegation. He portrayed his opponent - three-term Republican incumbent John W. Warner - as an out-of-touch politician who has become increasingly doctrinaire and conservative in recent years.
Virginia's other senator - Democrat Charles S. Robb - promised Tuesday to campaign heavily for Mark Warner. ``Virginians need to look ahead and I think Mark Warner is the best candidate to lead us into the 21st century,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Senate candidate Mark Warner
KEYWORDS: DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION 1996 by CNB