ASHINGTON - Signaling a split between Patrick J. Buchanan and religious conservatives, Christian Coalition President Pat Robertson warned yesterday that a third-party candidacy could doom Republican prospects in the presidential election.
Buchanan, for his part, canceled today's scheduled appearance at the coalition's annual convention in Washington.
The two actions fueled speculation that Buchanan is moving rapidly toward switching to the Reform Party. Robertson, at a news conference, said he was surprised Buchanan would want to join such a party, which leaves out any mention of social issues in its platform, and questioned whether religious conservatives would follow the former CNN commentator.
Robertson became the latest GOP figure to voice concern that a third-party candidacy would harm the party in the general election. Robertson said he is convinced Bill Clinton won in 1992 and 1996 because the third-party candidacy of Ross Perot drew away votes from the Republicans, and Robertson fears history will repeat itself.
Robertson said he could not understand Buchanan's motives, asserting that the Reform Party is ''180 degrees out in terms of social issues. They don't share any of the views that Pat Buchanan claimed to espouse so vociferously.''
The coalition leader noted the Reform Party's top elected official, Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, said in a Playboy magazine interview this week that organized religion is ''a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people.''
Robertson said Ventura was ''off his rocker.''
While Robertson says he is not endorsing any candidate, he spoke warmly about Texas Governor George W. Bush, calling him ''worthy of support.''
The contretemps over Buchanan occurred as five GOP candidates addressed the opening day of the convention. The candidates pledged in varying degrees to oppose abortion, although Bush addressed the issue only obliquely, saying, ''In our compassion, we should set this goal: The born and unborn must be protected by law and welcomed to life.''
Bush, unlike the other candidates, did not mention the word ''abortion,'' leaving that to the person who introduced him. Still, Bush received one of the most enthusiastic receptions among the crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 people.
In the past two weeks, Bush has asked Buchanan not to leave the Republican Party, noting that many have said President George Bush's reelection bid in 1992 was doomed by Perot.
Robertson is especially concerned about the impact of a third party because the Christian Coalition is at its weakest financial and political point in its 10-year history. Robertson, who said he is ''not satisfied'' with the state of the group, recently donated $1 million to keep afloat the coalition, which claims only 15 to 20 active state organizations.
Still, the coalition recently won a court ruling allowing it to distribute its voter guides, which typically give favorable ratings to Republicans, and Robertson said the organization will regain strength in the coming months.
''We will be the margin of victory in the key states,'' Robertson said. ''The Christian Coalition is going to be bigger and stronger and more powerful than ever.''
Buchanan, who is an ardent foe of abortion and has been a favorite among the Christian Coalition membership, canceled his appearance earlier this week, according to spokeswoman Joanne Hansen. But as recently as yesterday morning, the coalition had Buchanan listed on today's agenda. Hansen declined to explain the ''scheduling conflict'' that caused Buchanan to cancel.
''There is a conflict,'' she said. ''I can't say what it is.''
Buchanan did not return a call seeking comment.
Senator John McCain of Arizona was the only other GOP candidate to decline an invitation to appear.
In addition to Bush, the other candidates who spoke yesterday were former Reagan aide Gary Bauer, former Red Cross President Elizabeth Dole, talk show host Alan Keyes, and Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.
Bauer on Wednesday held a news conference to deny having an affair with a campaign staff member and implied the rumor was spread by the campaign of Steve Forbes, who has denied the accusation. Yesterday, Bauer took on the GOP front-runner, challenging Bush to a debate.
''What are you afraid of, governor?'' Bauer asked. Bush has declined to appear at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire later this month with other Republican candidates.
Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire, who left the Republican Party and is running as an independent presidential candidate, told the audience the GOP does not follow its own rhetoric in opposing abortion. On that point, Smith sounded most in sync with Robertson, who also criticized the Republican Congress.
Directing his comments to GOP leaders, Robertson said, ''We helped you to be elected. Now we ask for principled leadership. We ask for courage. We ask you to remember it is better to lose fighting a noble cause than to live in peace as a coward. In the words of Ronald Reagan, we would say, `Paint in vivid hues, not in pale pastels.'''
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi, who spoke shortly afterward, defended his leadership, saying he needs more help from religious conservatives. Lott said electing at least four additional Republicans to the Senate would provide enough votes to override a presidential veto of legislation that would ban late-term abortions.
Forbes is the only candidate scheduled to address the convention today.
