Bergeson Expected to Endorse Baker for Badham’s Seat

State Sen. Marian Bergeson, one of Orange County’s most influential Republicans, is expected today to back Irvine Councilman C. David Baker in his bid to outdistance a large pack of competitors seeking the 40th Congressional District seat.

The Newport Beach senator’s endorsement is viewed as significant because of her strong standing within the party and the fact that her own Senate district overlaps large portions of the congressional district.

“Marian’s endorsement would lend a tremendous energy to whoever is the benefactor of those good words,” said Thomas A. Fuentes, chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County. “Her endorsement will be pivotal in the movement of votes and dollars in the race.”

Bergeson has scheduled a news conference today at 10 a.m. at the county Hall of Administration in Santa Ana.

Her chief aide would not divulge the subject of the press conference or respond to reports that the senator plans to support Baker’s drive to replace Rep. Robert E. Badham (R-Newport Beach), who announced in January that he will not seek a seventh term in the House.

But several sources, including one close to the Baker campaign, said Bergeson will back the 35-year-old Baker, a one-term councilman. He already has Badham’s endorsement.

Baker, an attorney, is locked in a tough June 7 primary fight with 12 other Republicans.

Easy Victory Expected

The victor of the primary battle is expected to easily capture the November general election in one of the nation’s strongest and most loyal Republican congressional districts, which includes all or part of 11 cities. It takes in coastal areas from Newport Beach to Three Arch Bay and cuts inland to include Irvine and parts of Tustin and Santa Ana.

One of Baker’s chief challengers, Newport Beach businessman Nathan Rosenberg, Thursday tried to undercut the importance of the expected Bergeson endorsement.

“It is wrong for the party,” Rosenberg said at his Costa Mesa campaign headquarters, where he announced that conservative U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), has endorsed his candidacy. Rosenberg said a Bergeson endorsement of Baker is another example of the “outdated and tired good old boy network” in action.

In contrast, Rosenberg, 35, said McCain’s support is evidence of his ties in Washington and his ability, if elected, “to make an immediate impact” in Congress. He said Baker’s endorsements thus far, including one this week from Costa Mesa Councilman Peter Buffa, who quit the congressional race because of money troubles, shows that Baker has “lots of friends . . . but little else.”

‘Where’s the Beef?’

“My response to his endorsements is: Where’s the beef?”

At a candidate’s forum Thursday night in Newport Beach, Baker would not confirm reports of a Bergeson endorsement.

One source close to the Baker campaign said he had heard from two people that “she was going to come out for Baker.”

“If it’s any other, I’d be surprised,” he said. “I can’t believe she’d switch to Cox,” he added, referring to C. Christopher Cox, 35, the most conservative of the three major candidates. “Marian is very middle-of-the-road.”

As for Rosenberg, Bergeson was angry at his refusal to publicly declare that he would drop out of the race had she chosen to run, so an endorsement of him was considered unlikely.

There was little chance that Bergeson would have endorsed any of the remaining 10 candidates because party officials indicated that she wanted her endorsement to give a boost to one of the major candidates.

Remaining in Sacramento

Bergeson, considered running for the House seat when Badham announced his retirement in January. But the 60-year-old lawmaker opted to remain in Orange County, saying she had legislative priorities in Sacramento.

Her decision not to seek Badham’s seat opened the door for a host of Republican challengers, including Baker, who expressed an interest in the seat but said he would not run against Bergeson.

At least one candidate in the race, William Yacobozzi Jr., a Newport Beach attorney, said a Bergeson endorsement of Baker is a sign that the Irvine councilman may be in trouble.

“It is a cry for help,” Yacobozzi said. “I believe these endorsements are an attempt to prop up a campaign that is having trouble raising money and generating interest.”