Schedule Crunch Cancels Clinton Plans to Visit Fair

It looks as if Bill Clinton’s campaign caravan won’t be stopping at the Orange County Fair this Sunday after all.

The Democratic presidential nominee’s tentative plans to drop by the fair during a California tour were dropped due to a tight schedule Sunday that will include a stop at a picnic in Ontario. He then moves on to San Diego for a speech Monday before the National Urban League, area campaign workers said Friday.

“I am sure (the public) is going to be disappointed,” Orange County Democratic Vice Chairwoman Marti Schrank said. “There are so many people who are really longing to hear him and see him.”

Clinton also is scheduled to campaign next week in San Jose and San Francisco.

He has made numerous visits to traditionally Republican Orange County since last fall. But with voters showing uneasiness with their usual party alliances, supporters of the Arkansas governor say he will make a strong push for county voters before the November election.

“On the next visit, he will be coming into Orange County,” said Linda Bursteyn, the grass-roots director at Clinton state headquarters in Los Angeles.

“We have had several hundred calls from people in Orange County wanting to volunteer,” Bursteyn said. “It’s unusual to have that many volunteers for anybody at this point in a campaign. It certainly is a very good sign . . . that we are getting so many calls from Orange County.”