Clinton Will Make Stops in Irvine, Costa Mesa Thursday

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton will visit Orange County this week as he tries to gather support from all corners in the homestretch of the campaign.

Campaign officials said Saturday that the Arkansas governor would make a major policy address Thursday afternoon at the Irvine Barclay Theatre and then lead a rally at the Pacific Amphitheatre starting about 5 p.m.

“Frankly, the message of Clinton’s candidacy is one to cut across party lines,” said Jay Zieglar, Clinton’s California press secretary. “Orange County exemplifies the type of place where we want to make sure that message is heard.”

Clinton first campaigned in conservative Orange County last December, when he met for breakfast with several prominent Republican business leaders, including developer Kathryn Thompson and Roger Johnson, chairman of Western Digital. The two subsequently became part of a group of eight well-known Republicans to declare their support for the Democratic nominee.

Clinton has since visited the county twice, and his wife, Hillary, has campaigned here twice. Next week’s visit will likely be sandwiched between appearances in Las Vegas and Los Angeles as part of a two-day, seven-state “fly around” of the West.

“Orange County was one of the first places where Republicans and moderates stood up and said, ‘I think this guy is different,’ ” Johnson said in an interview Saturday. “I think it’s important that he’s coming back here to re-emphasize that beginning and the tone he has touched.”

Republicans now comprise about 53% of the county’s voters. Democrats account for about 34%, leaving a gap of 220,000 voters between the two parties. Since June, the Democratic Party has registered about 30,000 new voters, while the GOP has added about 20,000 to its rolls. Opinion polls show Clinton running neck and neck with President Bush here.

“We are committed to not allowing Orange County to be the place that loses it for the ticket,” said Howard Adler, Orange County Democratic chairman. “Things are changing even here in Orange County.”