Issa Leads Morrow in Campaign Funds

Multimillionaire businessman Darrell Issa had more than $345,000 on hand at the end of 1999 for his 48th Congressional District campaign, while state Sen. Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) had $79,000, according to filings with the Federal Elections Commission.

Morrow and Issa are considered the front-runners among seven GOP candidates vying for the congressional seat vacated by the retiring Ron Packard (R-Oceanside); about half of the district is in Orange County. Packard has held the seat for 18 years.

Issa lent his campaign $500,000 as of Dec. 31, the closing date for the filing period. Morrow had $81,774 in contributions, mostly private donations. About $14,500 was from political action committees.

Morrow’s campaign accused Issa of trying to buy the election.

“Bill Morrow is going to have to earn the seat, and we’re doing what we have to do to make that happen,” spokesman Damon Elder said.

Issa’s campaign countered that Morrow has held elected office since 1992.

“He has the advantage of incumbency,” said Dale Neugebauer, Issa’s campaign manager. “We’re just trying to level the playing field.”

The 48th District covers northern San Diego County and parts of Orange and Riverside counties, where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats 2 to 1.

Issa spent $10 million of his own money in an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in 1998, narrowly losing the primary to State Treasurer Matt Fong. Fong lost the general election to incumbent Democrat Barbara Boxer.

Mark Dornan, the youngest son of former Rep. Bob Dornan, is another candidate in the 48th District race. The younger Dornan was campaign manager for his father’s losing 1996 and 1998 campaigns against Democrat Loretta Sanchez of Garden Grove.