THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 3, 1996 TAG: 9610030378
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: DECISION '96
SOURCE: David Poole
LENGTH: 178 lines
Memo to Virginia voters
From: Staff writer David M. Poole
Re: Who's paying the candidates' way in the U.S. Senate campaign?
The campaign finance headline of the Warner vs. Warner contest
reads: ``John taps special interests; Mark digs into own pocket.''
A computer analysis of campaign finances in the U.S. Senate race
in Virginia confirms this basic storyline - and yields a few
surprises.
U.S. Sen. John Warner is the third-largest recipient of money
from political action committees among Senate candidates this year.
His seniority (18 years) and prime committees (Agriculture, Armed
Services, Transportation) make him attractive to corporate interests
plying the halls of Congress.
His PAC contributors include the National Cotton Council, Florida
Sugar Cane League, Lockheed Corp., General Dynamics.
Some business interests backing Warner have skirted federal
campaign limits - $5,000 for PACs, $2,000 for individuals - by
having a slew of employees give money at the same time.
This perfectly legal practice, known as bundling, netted Warner
these windfalls:
$43,950 from employees of two apparel makers headed by Linda J.
Wachner of New York. A spokesman said the employees gave money
because Wachner was a co-host of a gala fund-raiser for Warner at
the Four Seasons Hotel.
$19,000 from executives at Newport News Shipbuilding, a major
Virginia employer to whom Warner steers defense contracts.
$18,000 from employees and family members of South Florida sugar
baron Jose ``Pepe'' Fanjul, looking to impress upon Warner, a new
member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, the need to continue
sugar price supports.
Democrat Mark Warner keeps his long-shot challenge of John Warner
flush with checks drawn upon his personal checking account, which is
backed by a
cellular telephone fortune of at least $100 million.
Mark Warner has jumped on the Republican for taking so much
special interest money. The catch-line in a Mark Warner TV
commercial is: ``John Warner - plenty of time to listen to the
special interests and the lobbyists, but not enough time to listen
to us.''
The fact is, however, that John Warner's fund-raising base is
grounded more in Virginia than Mark Warner's supporters.
John Warner got 61 percent of his individual contributions from
Virginians through June 30, the most recent reporting period. Only
40 percent of Mark Warner's individual contributions came from
Virginians.
John Warner commands the loyalty of ``Main Street'' business
leaders in South Hampton Roads. John Warner has raised $125,630 in
the region, nearly 10 times more than Mark Warner. Business leaders
backing John Warner include Joshua P. Darden, Norfolk civic leader,
$2,000; Leonard Strelitz, Haynes Furniture, $2,000; David R. Goode,
Norfolk Southern Corp., $1,000; Ron Dozoretz, First Hospital Corp.
and former vice chairman of state Democratic Party, $1,000.
Ironically, Mark Warner's wealth makes it difficult for him to
raise money. The Democrat admits that supporters who might be
willing to contribute figure he can simply write himself another
check. He footed three-quarters of the cost of his campaign through
June.
His personal funds have allowed him to control the airwaves all
summer with $3 million worth of TV advertising.
Mark Warner is in no danger of becoming another Michael
Huffington, the California financier who put $28 million of his own
money in a losing Senate campaign two years ago. But it's not
inconceivable that Mark Warner could end up spending $8 million - or
more.
His friends in the mobile telecommunications industry have been
his most reliable contributors. Most of these backers live outside
Virginia and work for firms with futuristic names like Sygnet,
Skywire and Globatel.
``It's like a family network,'' said Anita Rimler, his campaign
manager, ``and all these people know Mark.''
Memo to Virginia voters
From: Staff writer David M. Poole
Re: Who's paying the candidates' way in the U.S. Senate campaign?
The campaign finance headline of the Warner vs. Warner contest
reads: ``John taps special interests; Mark digs into own pocket.''
A computer analysis of campaign finances in the U.S. Senate race
in Virginia confirms this basic storyline - and yields a few
surprises.
U.S. Sen. John Warner is the third-largest recipient of money
from political action committees among Senate candidates this year.
His seniority (18 years) and prime committees (Agriculture, Armed
Services, Transportation) make him attractive to corporate interests
plying the halls of Congress.
His PAC contributors include the National Cotton Council, Florida
Sugar Cane League, Lockheed Corp., General Dynamics.
Some business interests backing Warner have skirted federal
campaign limits - $5,000 for PACs, $2,000 for individuals - by
having a slew of employees give money at the same time.
This perfectly legal practice, known as bundling, netted Warner
these windfalls:
$43,950 from employees of two apparel makers headed by Linda J.
Wachner of New York. A spokesman said the employees gave money
because Wachner was a co-host of a gala fund-raiser for Warner at
the Four Seasons Hotel.
$19,000 from executives at Newport News Shipbuilding, a major
Virginia employer to whom Warner steers defense contracts.
$18,000 from employees and family members of South Florida sugar
baron Jose ``Pepe'' Fanjul, looking to impress upon Warner, a new
member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, the need to continue
sugar price supports.
Democrat Mark Warner keeps his long-shot challenge of John Warner
flush with checks drawn upon his personal checking account, which is
backed by a cellular telephone fortune of at least $100 million.
Mark Warner has jumped on the Republican for taking so much
special interest money. The catch-line in a Mark Warner TV
commercial is: ``John Warner - plenty of time to listen to the
special interests and the lobbyists, but not enough time to listen
to us.''
The fact is, however, that John Warner's fund-raising base is
grounded more in Virginia than Mark Warner's supporters.
John Warner got 61 percent of his individual contributions from
Virginians through June 30, the most recent reporting period. Only
40 percent of Mark Warner's individual contributions came from
Virginians.
John Warner commands the loyalty of ``Main Street'' business
leaders in South Hampton Roads. John Warner has raised $125,630 in
the region, nearly 10 times more than Mark Warner. Business leaders
backing John Warner include Joshua P. Darden, Norfolk civic leader,
$2,000; Leonard Strelitz, Haynes Furniture, $2,000; David R. Goode,
Norfolk Southern Corp., $1,000; Ron Dozoretz, First Hospital Corp.
and former vice chairman of state Democratic Party, $1,000.
Ironically, Mark Warner's wealth makes it difficult for him to
raise money. The Democrat admits that supporters who might be
willing to contribute figure he can simply write himself another
check. He footed three-quarters of the cost of his campaign through
June.
His personal funds have allowed him to control the airwaves all
summer with $3 million worth of TV advertising.
Mark Warner is in no danger of becoming another Michael
Huffington, the California financier who put $28 million of his own
money in a losing Senate campaign two years ago. But it's not
inconceivable that Mark Warner could end up spending $8 million - or
more.
His friends in the mobile telecommunications industry have been
his most reliable contributors. Most of these backers live outside
Virginia and work for firms with futuristic names like Sygnet,
Skywire and Globatel.
``It's like a family network,'' said Anita Rimler, his campaign
manager, ``and all these people know Mark.''
In State/Out of State -- Contributions from individuals who gave
$200 or more
John Warner Mark Warner
Va 971,609 61 % 245,988 40%
Out State 625,365 39 % 363,087 60%
Total $1,596,974 609,075
TOP FIVE STATES -- Contributions from individuals who gave $200
or more
John Warner Mark Warner
VA 971,609 VA 245,988
NY 124,800 DC 68,602
DC 123,090 MD 51,200
MD 68,665 MASS 41,600
FL 56,050 NY 33,750
WHERE MONEY COMES FROM -- All contributors of $200 or more
John Warner Mark Warner
Individuals 65 % Individuals 25%
PACS 29 % PACS 0%
Candidate 6 % Candidate 75%
JOHN WARNER'S TOP PAC MONEY -- By Industry Sector
Banks and Finance 142,157
Defense 123,964
Energy and Natural Resources 103,250
Transportation 88,850
Agriculture 75,467
Contributions made from Jan. 1, 1995 through June 30, 1996.
Source: Federal Election Commission, National Library on Money
and Politics. by CNB