Campbell picking up endorsements

Alicia Robinson

Now that state Sen. Dick Ackerman is out of the picture, state Sen.

John Campbell is picking up some of the endorsements Ackerman had

claimed in the bid to replace Rep. Chris Cox in the U.S. House.

Cox, who was first elected to represent the 48th Congressional

District in 1988, was tabbed by President Bush on June 2 to head the

Securities and Exchange Commission. He must be confirmed by the U.S.

Senate, but hearings have not yet been scheduled.

Campbell now has endorsements from GOP Congressmen Darrell Issa,

Dana Rohrabacher and Ed Royce, as well as Assemblymen Chuck DeVore

and Van Tran.

So far, competition for Cox’s seat is expected to come from former

Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer of Newport Beach, and possibly a host of

other Republicans who are staying in the shadows until Cox has

officially cleaned out his desk.

In the minds of some GOP observers, Campbell is the front runner,

but he may have to watch out for opponents who don’t know they’re

running yet.

The political action committee of the Free Enterprise Fund, which

supports economic growth and limits to government power, is launching

a campaign to urge former Rep. James Rogan to run for Cox’s seat.

Rogan represented a district that includes Glendale and Pasadena

from 1997 to 2001, but he’s also known for serving on the Judiciary

Committee that impeached former President Clinton.

He’s declined to talk to reporters about whether he will go after

Cox’s seat.

“I don’t know if Jim wants to run or not,” said Peter Roff, vice

president of the Free Enterprise Fund Political Action Committee.

“I’m hoping we can create a groundswell of support to convince him

that if he puts his hat in the ring, he will win the election.”

This week, the group sent out a news release that included glowing

quotes about Rogan from former Orange County GOP Chairman Tom

Fuentes.

A number of other political organizations will be at work behind

the scenes, although they won’t be endorsing anyone as Cox’s

replacement yet. At least six political action committees have signed

on to the Successor Project, which will offer a website with

candidates’ positions on conservative issues.

Dana Point City Councilman James Lacy, who chairs the Successor

Project’s board of directors, helped create the group after people

started calling to ask for his endorsement in the race.

“I found it offensive, frankly, that these folks would call

without even wanting to stop and sit down and talk about policy

issues,” Lacy said.

“What we’re hoping to do is find a clone for Chris Cox from a

policy standpoint.”

Political endorsements can matter if they come with campaign money

or volunteers, and for Campbell the right endorsements could buttress

him against critics who say he’s not conservative enough, UC Irvine

political scientist Mark Petracca said.

“A Republican can run to the right of John Campbell,” Petracca

said. “John Campbell has spent all this time sucking up to [Gov.]

Arnold Schwarzenegger, and we know that Arnold Schwarzenegger ain’t a

real Republican.”

Even if they’re not endorsing, political organizations might want

to get involved in this race because the seat isn’t likely to open up

again for some time.

Plus, it’s an off-year election, and they don’t have much else do

to, Petracca said.

“Does it end up making a difference? I suppose it can, but at the

end of the day, the one thing we all know is that voter turnout will

be low,” Petracca said.