Dornan considering run against Rohrabacher

S.J. Cahn

“B-1 Bob” might be back.

Former Republican Rep. Bob Dornan, who lost a race last year for his

old Garden Grove seat, told a Capitol Hill newspaper last week it is very

likely he will run against Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach).

Dornan has been toying with the idea since right after his defeat in

November to Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove), but his statement last

week was his strongest to date.

Rohrabacher said Monday he is too busy to worry about a possible

primary against the representative turned radio talk show host.

“I’ve just got so much to do, I don’t have time to worry about Bob,”

the congressman said.

Dornan could not be reached for comment.

A race between the two could turn into a donnybrook. Despite their

shared conservative philosophies, the two men have had a tense

relationship since 1991, when redistricting nearly forced them to run

against one another. Dornan backed out of the Huntington Beach district

and into the Garden Grove one, which is much more Democratic.

Those Democratic voters came out in force in 1996, when Sanchez first

beat Dornan by less than 1,000 votes.

Dornan has said he blames Rohrabacher, among others, including Rep.

Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), for not helping him against Sanchez.

Rohrabacher’s seat is much safer for a Republican, but that could

change given a nasty primary between the two, said former county

Democratic Party Chairman Jim Toledano.

“I think it would probably help the Democratic candidate

tremendously,” Toledano said. “These two will tear each other apart.”

The potential beneficiary of that fight is Ted Crisell, who just

recently became the first Democratic candidate for Rohrabacher’s seat.

Crisell, a 53-year-old who grew up in Mesa Verde, agreed that a

primary between Rohrabacher and Dornan could provide a rare opening for

his campaign.

“I think the Democrats are getting a better reputation,” the retired

businessman said. “I think it could make it very interesting. It could

make it interesting on a national level.” A Dornan win over Rohrabacher

also could help bring in significant donations for Crisell from national

donors wanting to ensure Dornan remains out of the House, Toledano said.

And come November 2000, Dornan’s conservative philosophies also could

repel moderate Republicans and independent voters, Crisell said, giving a

Democrat a fighting chance in the heavily Republican district.

County Republican chairman Tom Fuentes said he had no comment about

the potential primary race.