A candidate comes to town

Deirdre Newman

Eclipsing the usually Republican light that shines from Orange County

in almost every election, vice-presidential candidate John Edwards

snatched up some of his own Newport Beach sunshine to the tune of a

$1,000-a-plate luncheon. But local Republicans did their best to cast

a dark cloud over the event.

Edwards and his followers swooped into Newport Beach on Saturday,

weathered Republican protesters, and raised some big bucks for the

Democratic campaign.

Democrats who donated between $1,000 for a lunch and $10,000 for

that and a private reception, gathered at the Balboa Bay Club to see

the charismatic Edwards, who was chosen this month by Democratic

presidential candidate John Kerry.

The mood inside the club was giddy as Democrats reveled being the

center of attention in a town that has been traditionally known as a

Republican bastion. Before Edwards’ visit, about 30 Republican

protesters waved signs and booed Edwards from across the street,

inciting frequent honks from passersby.

Back inside, the crowd contained luminaries like former California

Gov. Gray Davis, Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer and Rep. Loretta Sanchez

(D-Anaheim), who introduced Edwards.

About 350 guests -- Democratic party volunteers and donors --

waited patiently for Edwards, a senator from North Carolina, to

appear. When he finally did, he brought the crowd to its feet.

Edwards reiterated a campaign theme, the idea of two Americas:

one for the wealthy and one for everyone else. Newport Beach is a

symbol of one of those Americas, he said. “Some of you heard about

one America -- people struggling to pay their bills and get by,”

Edwards said. “This is the other America.”

His speech was both a tribute to Kerry and a critique of the Bush

administration.

“You’ve all heard a lot of talk about values,” Edwards said.

“Where I come from you don’t judge that in the political sense but in

what someone has done. John Kerry volunteered for military service --

to go to Vietnam, one of the most dangerous duties. What’s most

important to me is the men who served with him and will be witnesses

of what kind of man he was.”

One of the most vocal fans during Edwards’ roughly 15-minute

speech was Caren Bolinger, a volunteer and donor from Westminster.

Bolinger cheered and clapped throughout most of his speech. She said

the Democratic ticket represents the values she believes in.

“I believe in the hope of America,” Bolinger said. “We need hope,

peace, love, our neighbors talking to each other again. I think Kerry

and Edwards will bring that to us. The values they hold are the

values we hold.”

The protest across the street from the club included Republicans

from conservative venues like Free Republic, a conservative, Internet

news forum, and others who came on their own, waving signs that said

things such as, “Dick Cheney can be president.””I’m standing with

President Bush in his fight against terrorism,” said Frances Akhavi,

of Corona del Mar. “I believe we’re doing the right thing going into

Iraq. I believe Bush is not only making us safer but the world a

safer place.”

Frank Barbaro, chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party,

said he wasn’t impressed with the protest.

“I’m not sure what they’re protesting,” Barbaro said. “I didn’t

know you could protest someone running for office. They said bring it

on. Well we’re here.”

Barbaro said he expected Edward’s visit to raise between $450,000

and $500,000. That was a conservative estimate, he said.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].