Threat of ‘New Right’ Adds Heat to Zschau’s Campaign

FRESNO —  Sometimes it’s 100 miles between campaign stops along California 99 and there are fewer than 50 people in the audience when he arrives. The Central Valley heat is more than 100 degrees, and Ed Zschau, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate nomination, has come down with a fever higher than than that.

Even up here with the front of the pack in the crowded GOP Senate primary, campaigning can be a daily battle for small gains.

A Los Altos congressman, Zschau on Monday concluded three days of campaigning up and down the valley. He measured his gains in fresh expressions of agribusiness support and increased visibility in a region he believes is unusually receptive to his chamber-of-commerce brand of GOP politics.

Zschau also as much as welcomed the news that he has been targeted for defeat by an independent Washington-based “new right” political organization. He predicted a backlash in California if the Free Congress Political Action Committee follows through with a plan to attack him in television and radio advertising during the final two weeks of the campaign.

“The California race ought to be decided by Californians. And to have a right-wing political action committee come in and attack somebody like myself, who is a front-runner, and try and change the outcome isn’t the way in which California politics ought to be played. . . . It could have a positive effect rather than a negative effect,” Zschau said in Fresno.

Zschau, who considers himself a fiscal conservative and social moderate, has consistently made hard-line conservatives in California uneasy. But this is the first sign that conservatives nationally are troubled by his candidacy as the GOP seeks to defeat venerable Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston in November.

The Free Congress PAC, formed in the mid-1970s, is chaired by Paul Weyrich, one of the founders of the new right political movement. Its political agenda, similar to that of evangelist Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority, emphasizes such social issues as opposition to abortion and support of prayer in public schools.

Spokesman Ed Haislmaier said the group is not prepared yet to announce details of its campaign against Zschau. Haislmaier acknowledged, however, that it was a “legitimate question” just how much money the organization had to devote to this cause. Many conservative groups nationally have reported fund-raising difficulties.

Judging from keen press attention, however, there is little doubt that the group will make its point--that the new right is displeased with Zschau--just by announcing its threatened campaign.

Zschau said “common sense” suggests that the intended beneficiary of a conservative attack on him would be rival candidate and television commentator Bruce Herschensohn, who also is thought to be a major contender in the race.

Under federal law, however, an independent political action committee is not permitted to act overtly on one candidate’s behalf against another, but can speak out on its own behalf in opposition to a candidate.

Asked about the development, Herschensohn quipped, “It’s a great idea as long as it’s not me (under attack).”

In his campaigning through the Central Valley, Zschau, punished by a worsening fever and symptoms of a cold, visited eight communities for two barbecues, five receptions, one breakfast meeting, a news conference, a Rotary speech and 460 miles of driving on California 99. The primary goal was to raise $100,000 to pay what he called “the television monster” for the commercials that have helped move him from obscurity to among the perceived front-runners in the 13-person field.

Wins New Backing

After several weeks of trying, Zschau was cheered by the endorsement Monday of prominent valley cattleman John C. Harris, who was statewide co-chairman four years ago for the successful campaign of U.S. Sen. Pete Wilson against Democrat Edmund G. Brown Jr. Harris had been backing rival candidate Assemblyman Bob Naylor of Menlo Park but handed Zschau a $1,000 contribution “because the race is narrowing.”

Harris said he was attracted to Zschau for the very reasons that new right conservatives dislike him--his independence. “This valley, I don’t think, is very ideological and doesn’t look at issues in black and white,” Harris said.

Much of Zschau’s support in the valley, as elsewhere, is rooted in his pro-business, pro-trade approach to politics. He frequently boasts he received a 100% voting rating from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce two of his four years in Congress.

“What they want is not necessarily someone who knows how to raise grapes or raise raisins, but someone who knows how to be a success, about trade and about business,” said Zschau.

Gain in the Name

Still worrying the candidate and his supporters is the extent to which his uncommon name is becoming familiar to voters after weeks of television advertising.

In Visalia, bank vice president Art Zschau provided his answer.

Art had never met candidate Ed and doesn’t know if they are related. But banker Art said, “I’ve found that people come into the bank now and pronounce my name when they couldn’t before.”

“Great,” replied candidate Ed. “I pay $3 million and this guy’s business takes off.”