McCain to visit support base in Newport Beach

Republican presidential contender John McCain will make a fundraising stop in Newport Beach later this month.

McCain’s California Leadership Team will host a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. March 25 at The Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive.

This McCain pit stop is the latest of several recent visits to Orange County, said George Andrews, executive director of the Republican Party of Orange County.

“When you look at vote margin in the February primary, support for McCain was off the chart in here,” Andrews said. “We’re very confident people here will continue to rally behind McCain in the general election.”

McCain has a strong support base in Orange County with numerous high-profile boosters, including Assemblyman Van Tran, who has rallied support among the local Vietnamese community for the candidate, and real estate magnate Donald Bren, who has made several donations. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has already raised more than $900,000 in Orange County alone this election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

— Brianna Bailey