Carter Easily Outdistances Robinson in Straw Poll by Democratic Associates

Members of Democratic Associates of Orange County strongly favor Superior Court Judge David O. Carter over six-term Assemblyman Richard Robinson (D-Garden Grove) in the Democratic primary for the 38th Congressional District seat, results of a straw poll released Sunday show.

Conservative Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) now holds that seat.

About 150 members of Democratic Associates who took part in the poll Friday night gave 63% of their vote to Carter and 4% to Robinson. Another 33% voted for no endorsement, according to associates president Christopher Townsend, who released the results.

The year-old associates group consists of about 400 young professionals who pay $50 dues to socialize, discuss politics and hear speeches by local and national Democratic leaders.

The associates’ vote will be included in an endorsement vote expected later this month by the Democratic Foundation of Orange County. The county’s major Democratic financiers and activists pay $1,000-a-year dues to belong to the foundation.

As a result of the straw poll, Democratic Associates will give 12 delegates to Carter, one to Robinson and six to a “no endorsement” ballot when about 60 foundation delegates decide whether to make an endorsement before the June primary.

Robinson and many longtime county Democratic activists had urged a “no endorsement” vote, rather than create bitter divisions in the county party over this race. But Carter sought the associates endorsement, and Friday night many associates were clearly in his “new leadership” camp.

They sported “Carter for Congress” hats and buttons and frequently interrupted his remarks with applause.