Rohrabacher leads money race

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT-MESA -- Gerrie Schipske may be a woman of many talents -- a

nurse, lawyer and Cal State Long Beach teacher -- but she’ll need a near

miracle to unseat Rep. Dana Rohrabacher.

Schipske, a Democrat, is taking on Rohrabacher, who represents Costa

Mesa, in the race for the newly aligned 46th District. And she’s trailing

in the money fight thus far, according to the latest campaign finance

statements.

For the period ending last year, Schipske counted only $2,244 in her

war chest. She raised $19,993 in 2001 but spent $21,909.

Not known as a prolific fund-raiser, Rohrabacher brought in $65,010 in

contributions against $50,940 in expenses. The congressman’s treasury has

$121,557.

“Wide gaps in the amount of campaign contributions are what you always

find in a district that is heavily weighted to one party or the other,”

Rohrabacher said about his 3-to-1 fund-raising edge. “This is a totally

different district that she is running in. . . . My responsibility is not

blowing smoke in people’s faces and just going out there and telling them

where I stand.”

Schipske came within 1% of defeating Republican Rep. Steve Horn in the

2000 campaign for Horn’s Long Beach seat. During that race, she raised

$860,000, she said. However, she’s now running in a much more

conservative district, after redistricting wiped out Horn’s seat.

“It’s going to be a hard campaign, but we’re doing a grass-roots

campaign, and we’re reaching out to everyone,” Schipske said. “We think

we can do it.”

Rep. Chris Cox, who is facing two Republican challengers, is also

leading handily in the money race. Cox is sporting a formidable $661,250

war chest. Television producer Dave Forman and businessman David Cobert

haven’t raised the $5,000 required for a filing.

Cox, who represents Newport Beach, hauled in $167,772 last year

against $53,341 in expenditures. Cox said he will donate much of his cash

to the National Republican Congressional Committee for other party

candidates.

Cox added he isn’t taking his challengers, including UC Irvine

professor and Democrat John Graham, for granted. Cox said he is confident

voters will respond to his work record and experience.

“I’m going to work very hard,” Cox said. “That’s the best way to

approach it. . . . Good policy is good politics.”