GOP hopefuls vie for county support

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- The battle for the hotly contested Republican

presidential nomination is starting to take shape in GOP-loyal Orange

County as the state primary approaches.

The all-important endorsement had not been batted around publicly until

this week when state Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer [R-Newport Beach]

announced she is supporting Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Brewer subscribes to McCain’s message of reform and believes he can

galvanize party ideals in the upcoming election.

“My personal litmus test is who would I want to be in a foxhole with?”

Brewer rhetorically asked. “The answer is John McCain. He has a proven

record of speaking the truth, even when his position is unpopular.”

McCain has slowly gained momentum since his landslide victory over Texas

Gov. George W. Bush in the New Hampshire primary last month. He has also

chipped away at Bush’s margin in polls taken before today’s South

Carolina primary. Most polls have McCain trailing Bush by a few

percentage points.

No matter the outcome in South Carolina, many of those in the political

arena are betting that California will decide the eventual winner.

Brewer believes McCain will spend about 80% to 90% of his time between

now and March 7 campaigning in California. McCain supporters are

preparing for a main offensive starting Monday, when there will be a

kickoff party at campaign headquarters in Tustin.

Although McCain has gained ground, he will be hard-pressed to win

California, said Rep. Christopher Cox [R-Newport Beach]. Cox, a loyal

Bush backer who has worked with the governor and his advisors, said

McCain has his work cut out for him in the Golden State.

“He doesn’t have much time to turn it around out here,” Cox said. “It

looks very grim for Sen. McCain. When one looks at the total picture,

there is overwhelming support within the party locally for Bush.”

Cox says Orange County is primarily Bush country and said the candidate

will probably receive endorsements from the county’s top GOP

organizations. The perception that Bush is losing his grip will not have

an effect in California, he predicted.

“California voters are not weather vanes,” Cox said. “They won’t

flip-flop on whatever the weekend results are.”

There are some public officials who will wait to give their endorsement.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher [R-Huntington Beach] hasn’t announced who he will

support or when he will make a decision.

Another critical factor is the number of appearances the candidates will

make in Orange County. With the primary night celebration schedule to be

held in Newport Beach at the Sutton Hotel, Orange County could be the

most important place in the state for Bush and McCain -- although they

will also have to appeal to voters outside the party because it is an

open primary.

Neither candidate has confirmed any local appearances.