GOP takes its battle up coast

Senate campaign is, for now, focusing on Huntington, where one hopeful has the advantage.Just months after a special election for Congress engulfed the Newport-Mesa area with campaign signs and emotional debate, a new race for the state Legislature has generated noticeably less buzz in the area.

The campaigning has begun, but to get a piece of the action, residents should look north to Huntington Beach, where both sides are sowing the seeds for a bitter battle to Sacramento.

Nearly a quarter of the voters in the 35th state Senate district live in Huntington Beach, making it an obvious battleground in the April 11 special election between local Assemblyman Tom Harman and Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey. Both are vying to replace John Campbell, who was recently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to replace Chris Cox after he gave up his seat to become the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Senate district runs from Cypress down the coast to Dana Point and includes all of Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, and most of Irvine. Harkey’s campaign manager Scott Hart said her campaign has spent its early stages in Huntington Beach but plans to eventually make a districtwide push.

“We want to go to Huntington Beach first because that’s where people know Harman, and we want them to know there’s another candidate out there,” Hart said.

Political insiders are calling the contest a battle of name recognition versus party support and a possible test of the Orange County GOP’s electoral clout.

The biggest Republican names in the county -- including Campbell, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher and Sheriff Mike Carona -- have thrown their support behind Harkey, though Harman continues to enjoy strong name recognition in north Orange County, especially Huntington Beach, where he has served on the City Council and in the state Assembly for 12 years.

“I will concede an edge to Tom [Harman] based on name recognition, but that’s it,” Huntington Beach City Councilman and Republican Don Hansen said, arguing that many in the party are becoming disillusioned with Harman.

Some bad memories still exist from Harman’s first election to the state Assembly in March 2000, a victory partially attributed to the state’s ill-fated attempt to allow open primaries. Opponent Jim Righeimer received 2,837 more Republican votes than Harman, but he lost because Harman received more primary votes from members of other parties, including Democrats.

With the cities of Cypress, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and parts of unincorporated Orange County in his constituency, Harman represents about 40% to 50% of the Senate district, while Harkey now represents only about 4% of voters, according to figures from the Orange County Registrar of Voters.

Campbell said Harkey can win without taking Huntington Beach, but she can’t ignore it either.

“It’s just 25% of the district, so there’s still 75% available to win,” he said.

“But can she win if she ignores Huntington Beach? No. I don’t think so.”

Hoping to change some of the balance, Harkey spent the weekend campaigning in Huntington Beach with help from Hansen.

“We’re going to be very active in Huntington Beach; we’re not going to concede it,” she said.

The campaign will eventually incorporate all of the district, Hart said. Harkey attended a fundraiser at Costa Mesa City Councilman Gary Monahan’s restaurant Thursday night and established her campaign head- quarters in central Costa Mesa.

She also plans to launch an aggressive campaign to send targeted political literature to voters. Harkey said she planned to spend about $800,000 in the election, including $400,000 to $500,000 of her own money. She’s already raised about $150,000 since she began developing her candidacy in October.

“This campaign will live and die by its mail program,” county GOP boss Scott Baugh said. “With nearly a million people living in the district, you just can’t get to know everyone.”

Many are now wondering if Harman will be able to keep up. An official with Harman’s campaign estimated the assemblyman had about $280,000 in available campaign funds.

Harman is expected to try to raise another $300,000 and will work on targeting absentee voters, who often vote by mail during special elections. As for the endorsements Harkey is lining up, Harman said he is undeterred.

“If you look at who they are, frankly, some of them are people I wouldn’t want,” he said.

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