Sen. John W. Warner indicated yesterday that he is not ruling out voting for Mark R. Warner, the Democrat who hopes to succeed him.

"I'm watching that race, following the positions of the two candidates," the Republican told reporters on a conference call today, Politico reported.

"There have been occasions when I have supported Democratic candidates. But I'm not there yet."

John Warner, who defeated Mark Warner in Virginia's 1996 Senate race, said he disagreed with Republican Jim Gilmore's position on the federal bailout of Wall Street.

During Friday night's Senate debate in Roanoke, Gilmore called the $700 billion bailout bill a "travesty" that hurts taxpayers.

Gilmore said in a statement today that he has "great respect" for John Warner, but disagrees with him on the bailout.

"I agree with John Warner on many issues, but on the issue of whether to use taxpayer money to bailout Wall Street, I agree with the bipartisan majority of the Virginia members of the House of Representatives," Gilmore said.

"This nation is obviously facing economic problems, but giving $700 billion of the taxpayers' money to the Wall Street high rollers who created this situation is not the right answer."

John Warner's conference call was timed to coincide with Sen. Barack Obama's campaign appearance today in Newport News.

"If you raise taxes you are putting a tourniquet on the economy," Warner said.