Sen. Warner Defeats Miller in Virginia GOP Primary

Sen. John W. Warner handily dispatched former federal Budget Director James C. Miller III in Virginia’s Republican primary Tuesday, even though the conservative challenger had the backing of state GOP leaders.

In South Carolina, meanwhile, Strom Thurmond, the oldest senator ever at 93, easily won nomination for an eighth term against a Republican who tried to make an issue of Thurmond’s age.

In Virginia, with 78% of precincts reporting, Warner had 241,306 votes, or 65%, and Miller had 127,900 votes, or 35%.

State GOP officials backed Miller in anger over Warner’s refusal to endorse Oliver L. North’s Senate campaign two years ago. North lost to Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb.

Miller, budget director under President Reagan, enjoyed fervent support from conservative Christians, while Warner openly courted Democrats and independents, who were allowed to vote in the GOP primary under Virginia’s open primary system.

The senator’s victory now sets up Warner vs. Warner in November, since the Democratic nominee is Mark R. Warner, a former state party chairman and cellular phone tycoon who is no relation to the senator.

With 54% of precincts reporting in South Carolina, Thurmond had 59,877 votes, or 65%; state Rep. Harold Worley had 25,139 votes, or 27%; and college instructor Charles Thompson had 7,490 votes, or 8%.

Thurmond defended his right to run again as he cast his ballot in what he said would be his last primary. “It’s performance that counts,” he said.

Thurmond was elected to the Senate as a Democrat in 1954 and switched to the GOP a decade later.

After voting in his hometown of Aiken, Thurmond departed for Washington, where he presided over Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole’s departure ceremony.