Cox, Rohrabacher cruise to victory

Andrew Glazer & Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- Incumbent U.S. Reps. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach)

and Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) toasted their decisive

victories Tuesday night as election results trickled in.

And Newport-Mesa Republicans had reason to celebrate. At 11 p.m. Tuesday, with 3% of Orange County precincts reporting, Rohrabacher had taken 64.4%

of the vote, while Cox grabbed 70%.

Cox, speaking in front of more than 1,000 people at the Sutton Place

Hotel, predicted the GOP will complete the political trifecta in November

by having a Republican president along with a majority in the House of

Representatives and the Senate in the nation’s capital.

“We are going to make history this year,” proclaimed Cox, who threw his

weight behind presidential candidate Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

“California will win it for Bush and Orange County is going to win it for

California.”

Cox was unopposed for the Republican slot on Tuesday’s ballot but will

have to defend his seat against a Democratic challenger. Out of several

Democratic candidates vying for the chance to run against Cox in

November, John Graham appeared to be headed for the spot with 10% of the

vote according to early returns.

Several people shouted “Cox for Vice President” as he pumped up the

cheering crowd. Cox wouldn’t reveal any future plans, but said the

presidential race is shaping up to be a heated contest.

“The Democrats have the weaker candidate with Al Gore,” he said. “If we

have a Republican president, it’s going to be a brand new ballgame.”

Rohrabacher, who was running against fellow Republican Long K. Pham, took

64.4% of the vote, according to very early returns. He will face

Democratic challenger Ted Crisell, who got 24.4% of the vote Tuesday, in

November.

John Campbell -- the sole Republican running for the 70th District seat

in the State Assembly -- also was able to pull out a victory. He was

vying for the seat of Marilyn C. Brewer (R-Newport Beach), who is

completing her third and final term. He will face Democratic challenger

Merritt Lori McKeon in November.

State Sen. Ross Johnson (R-Irvine) also ran unopposed for the Republican

nomination, and captured 66% of the vote, according to absentee ballot

results. Democratic challenger Steve Ray got 27.1% of the vote, according

to early returns.

Despite the festive environment in the grand ballroom, some party-goers

were disappointed that Bush returned to his home state. They expected a

visit and speech from Bush, who was overwhelmingly supported by Orange

County Republicans. In fact, the closest Bush has come to Orange County

in the last week was a rally Monday in San Diego.

But the Bush family was represented at Tuesday’s night party. George P.

Bush, the governor’s nephew who has been campaigning vigorously for his

uncle in California, was shaking hands and thanking volunteers.

“We would have liked to seen the next president of the United States but

he will be back,” said Donald Taylor, who voted for Bush in the primary.

“There is a good section of support here in Orange County and we want to

show that to him.”

The grand ballroom had its share of supporters from different camps.

There were a handful of Alan Keyes signs visible in the room but the

loudest group belonged to the John McCain contingent. However, most of

the crowd was waving blue Bush signs throughout the night.

McCain backers weren’t discouraged by the early results that gave Bush

the preliminary victory in California.

“We need someone like John McCain in the White House to bring both sides

together,” said Costa Mesa resident Jim Turton. “Even if he loses in this

race, he can still rebound and surprise Bush at the national convention.”

All of the meeting rooms at the hotel were devoted to the GOP soiree.

Most of the crowd converged in the ballroom, listening to speeches and

watching television for the latest election results.

Orange County Republican Party Chairman Tom Fuentes said the work has

just begun. He said the party must rally behind Bush in order to topple

Democratic front-runner Al Gore in November’s election.

“There is no question the Republican nominee will come to Orange County,”

Fuentes said. “This is an important stomping ground and it is essential

to get out the vote as we get closer to election day.”