Democrats Jam Amphitheater, Cheer Candidate

Loaded in buses and vans, they choked nearby freeways and local streets, overflowing the parking lot at the Pacific Amphitheatre and lining up hundreds deep to get through the gates to see the Democratic candidate for President.

Swept up by the size and enthusiasm of the crowd that turned out Thursday night at a rally for Gov. Bill Clinton, Orange County Democratic Chairman Howard Adler couldn’t help but engage in a bit of hyperbole as he commandeered the microphone.

“It’s historic,” Adler bellowed as the crowd roared. “On Oct. 22, 1992, the Orange Curtain falls. . . . It’s tough to be a Democrat in Orange County. But no more. We’re going to dance in the streets of Orange County.”

It was by far the biggest turnout to see a Democrat in the Republican bastion of Orange County. By the time the event began an hour after the scheduled 6 p.m. start, fire officials had shut the gates to the Pacific Amphitheatre, stranding thousands of disappointed Clinton supporters outside.

Jackie Lampher, a lifelong resident of Orange County, had never seen anything like it in this spiritual center of Republicanism.

“I can remember years ago when maybe there were six or seven families that were Democrats in Orange County,” Lampher, 54, said from her perch on the grass at the edge of the gaping outdoor theater. “This is wonderful to see all these Democrats. . . . If people had told me this many Democrats would come to a rally in this day and age, I would have laughed my head off.”

As the crowd began gathering, scores of Republican supporters of President Bush posted themselves at street corners near the amphitheater, shouting slogans and waving signs (“Clinton Couldn’t Run Wal-Mart, Much Less the Country” and “What’s the Difference Between Fonda and Clinton? Fonda went to Vietnam”).

Most also came armed with a ready message: Orange County is still Republican territory.

“When you bring the Democrats from all over Southern California by bus, there is a sense that there is a lot of Democrats,” said Assemblyman Mickey Conroy (R-Orange), who was among a group of military veterans protesting Clinton’s appearance. “But you look at those buses, you look at the signs, they’re from up in L.A. or down in the Imperial Valley. . . . What you’re seeing is a charade.”

At times the various clusters of Bush supporters came nose-to-nose with backers of Clinton. In one exchange outside the gates, a group of youthful Republicans began calling a pack of Democrats “Femi-nazis,” to which the Clinton-backers replied in chorus: “Read my lips! Two more weeks!”

As the two sides closed to within about a foot of one another, shouting the whole time, a Republican waved a sign in Elise Kauffman’s face. Kauffman, 26, of Orange grabbed the placard and another Democrat ripped it and threw it back at the Republican group. But eventually cooler heads prevailed and the groups separated.

Supporters of Ross Perot also were much in evidence outside the arena before the event. The so-called Perotistas lashed up a sign reading: “$4,000,000,000,000. Clinton says, ‘Don’t Worry. Be Happy.’ Uh-uh. Our Credit Card is Maxed Out.”

The crowd inside the amphitheater included gatherings of curious but disdainful Republicans. Most said they were not impressed by the crowd and suspected that many, if not most, of the audience had been bused in.

“We’re surprised by the number of buses,” said John Grimm, 27, of Santa Ana, who said he was a Bush supporter. Nearby, another Bush supporter, Frank Peterson, 30, of Rancho Santa Margarita said, “It looks like there’s strong voter participation if you take all the minorities outside and bus them inside.”

Thousands stranded outside the amphitheater complained bitterly after the gates closed.

“I think that’s pretty bad, because we wanted to come see Clinton and support him,” said Maria Olamendi, 37, of Dana Point. “We’ve been in traffic (driving to Costa Mesa) for the last two hours.”

Natasha Corich, 18, of Mission Viejo said she was particularly disappointed about not being able to get in. “I came to hear Clinton because I don’t know who to vote for,” she said.

But the rank-and-file voters were not the only ones who had trouble getting in. After the gates shut, even some movie stars and prominent Democratic politicians had difficulty entering the amphitheater, among them actress Whoopi Goldberg. Santa Ana Councilman Miguel A. Pulido Jr. said he had to persuade guards who he was before he could enter. Pulido added, “It took us an hour-and-a-half just to park the car.”

Inside the amphitheater, nerves weren’t nearly so frayed, and the event had the hybrid feel of rock concert-meets-pep rally.

“This is finally our year! This is the year of change!” yelped Barbara DeLeon, 50, of Fullerton, who came equipped with a cowboy hat covered with pins for various Democratic candidates.

Being a Democrat in Orange County, she added, is “a very difficult thing, but you don’t give up. It’s the most unbelievable and warm feeling to be able to be here.”

Times staff writer Bill Billiter, Ted Johnson and Dave Lesher contributed to this report.