Dukakis Gets Warm Reception in Tustin

Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis swung into Orange County Monday for the first time in his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination and got a rousing reception.

Orange County Democratic leaders, who had just a few days to put together an event, said they had expected about 100 people for a $10-per-person breakfast at the Revere House in Tustin. But about 250 lined up at 7:30 a.m. for sweet rolls and coffee to get a look at Dukakis, who is attracting similarly large crowds wherever he goes.

“You know, most of us from the East don’t think there are any Democrats in Orange County,” said Dukakis, 53, surveying the packed room. “I’m really overwhelmed.”

In introducing the candidate, Cypress Mayor John Kanel, a fellow Greek-American, joked that Thomas A. Fuentes, GOP chairman in overwhelmingly Republican Orange County, “has got to be shaking in his boots” at the thought of Dukakis’ candidacy.

(“Who is Dukakis?” quipped Fuentes, when contacted later by The Times.)

Dukakis then cracked up the room when, referring to the 16th-Century takeover of the Greek island of Cyprus (now an independent country) by the Turks, he turned to Kanel and asked, “Is there not some delicious justice in the fact that the mayor of Cypress is a Greek-American?”

On more serious subjects, Dukakis talked generally of what he would do if elected President to restore the economy and promote world peace. Among other things, he said he opposed aid to the contras in Nicaragua.

At the Revere House breakfast, Orange County Democratic Party Chairman John Hanna said Dukakis had won a straw poll taken of Democrats at the Orange County Fair, which closed Sunday. Of the 720 ballots counted, Dukakis had garnered 19% of the votes, followed by Delaware Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (16%), the Rev. Jesse Jackson (15%), Illinois Sen. Paul Simon (10%), Tennessee Sen. Albert Gore Jr. (8%), Rep. Patricia Schroeder of Colorado (8%), Rep. Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri (7%) and former Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt (5%). The remaining 12% were cast for various other candidates.

Despite his lead in several national polls and being ahead of the Democratic pack in fund raising, Dukakis declined Monday to declare himself a front runner.

Referring to the straw poll, Dukakis said, “With all due respect and affection to the people of Orange County . . . the only front runner right now is something called undecided, and he’s way out ahead, or she’s way out ahead.”

Dukakis said that although the field will be narrowed considerably by the March 8 “Super Tuesday” primaries in the South, “I think California could well be the decisive primary” in June, 1988.

“That’s one of the reasons why I’m here, one of reasons why I’m coming back and one of the reasons why we expect to put together a very strong organization (here),” Dukakis said.

While in Orange County, Dukakis also met for a mid-morning private breakfast with former Democratic Party Chairman Richard O’Neill and a few of O’Neill’s friends at the Pacific Club in Newport Beach.

Over the weekend, Dukakis met in Los Angeles with former supporters of former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart, who dropped out of the race in May. Dukakis said he found them “very warm, very interested,” but did not name any who were now in support of him.

Democratic political consultant Harvey Englander, a Dukakis supporter who attended the breakfast, said he is planning a fund-raiser for Dukakis in Orange County on Aug. 25. Proceeds from Monday’s breakfast benefited the Orange County Democratic Party.