GOP Leaders to Help Dornan Campaign

Former Rep. Robert K. Dornan’s campaign to return to Congress will get a boost this month from key House Republican leaders who are coming to Orange County to help him with two fund-raisers.

The money will come in handy for Dornan, who last month announced that his campaign was nearly broke with only $4,500 left after paying existing debts.

House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas and Rep. John Linder of Georgia, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, will join Dornan on Aug. 21 for a $1,000-a-person dinner at the Pacific Club near John Wayne Airport.

On Aug. 17, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay of Texas and Rep. Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland, a member of the House National Security Committee, will attend a $100-per-person reception for Dornan at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel prior to the monthly Republican Central Committee meeting.

“It’s party unity, pure and simple,” Dornan’s son and campaign manager, Mark, said Tuesday. “They’re going to do everything they can to take this seat back.”

Dornan, who was in Washington for a fund-raiser in his honor, couldn’t be reached for comment.

The money-raising events by House leadership are a first for Dornan’s campaign. He lost his seat in 1996 to Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) and later unsuccessfully challenged the vote by alleging, among other things, that votes of noncitizens had cost him the election.

Dornan won the GOP primary in June without visible support from House Republicans, some of whom backed one of his Republican challengers, lawyer Lisa Hughes of Orange. Dornan lashed out at the tepid support from his former colleagues, sparking a feud with House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

At a GOP unity rally in Costa Mesa in June, Gingrich ended the tension by urging county voters to elect Dornan.

Sanchez, who beat Dornan by 984 votes, reported raising $1.1 million as of June 30.