Rain Doesn’t Dampen McCain’s Local Parade

Coming off a crushing defeat in South Carolina and hoping for a victory in today’s Michigan primary, presidential hopeful John McCain set his sights on California on Monday and opened a campaign office in vote-rich Orange County.

A fierce downpour and chilly weather in Tustin did not dampen the enthusiasm of about 200 McCain supporters who inaugurated the Arizona Republican’s newest campaign headquarters.

Orange County, long a bastion of Republican conservatism, is a crucial battleground for McCain and his primary opponent, Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Conventional wisdom has it that a Republican cannot win in California without winning in Orange County.

While McCain stumped for votes in Michigan, his supporters here were buoyed by speeches from local officials who have endorsed him. Assemblywoman Marilyn C. Brewer (R-Newport Beach) praised McCain as a reformer and blasted Bush for his appearance at Bob Jones University in South Carolina, which bans interracial dating. Bush has condemned the ban.

The dedication of McCain’s Orange County campaign headquarters attracted supporters from throughout Southern California, including Democrat Bob Oetken of Long Beach. The March7 primary will be an open primary, allowing voters to cross party lines. (In California’s open presidential primary, however, only the votes of party members will count in awarding national convention delegates.)

Oetken, 70, and a lifelong Democrat, said he has never voted for a Republican presidential candidate, but he likes McCain.

“It was a hard decision, and I’ve been thinking about it for the longest time,” Oetken said. “But I believe McCain when he says he can bring reform to government.”

For some Republicans, deciding which candidate to support was not so difficult. Lorie Miller, 27, said she waited until Saturday, after Bush’s victory in South Carolina, to actively campaign for McCain.

“In politics, whoever has the most money wins. Bush is being bankrolled by the Republican hierarchy and some very wealthy corporate types. McCain’s is more of a grass-roots effort, and that appeals to me. I like his message,” said Miller, an Anaheim resident.