McCain's campaign didn't allow reporters at the Tuesday night reception, but the senator reportedly has support from big local names including Irvine Co. chairman Don Bren and George Argyros, a former U.S. ambassador to Spain.
Also backing McCain for the 2008 GOP nomination is Costa Mesa Assemblyman Van Tran. He said he's behind the Arizona senator because of his long experience with foreign policy and military issues.
"Those two issues will be key in the 2008 election, in light of our country's engagement in the Middle East, in Iraq and in Afghanistan," Tran said.
A Rasmussen poll of likely GOP voters, released Tuesday, showed McCain tied with Romney at 11% of the vote; they trailed Giuliani and unofficial candidate Fred Thompson, a former Tennessee senator, both of whom tied with 24%.
A Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll the same day showed similar results, with Giuliani ahead, followed by Thompson, McCain and Romney, in that order.
McCain has largely stuck by President Bush on his handling of the Iraq war, which has become increasingly unpopular with voters. But some observers, troubleshooting McCain's candidacy, said it's not the war that may hurt McCain with Orange County voters — it's his stance on immigration reform.
"I think everybody respects him" for his stance on the war, said Newport beach businessman Buck Johns, who hasn't picked a candidate yet but has maxed out donations to Giuliani, Romney and Huckabee. But on immigration, Johns said, "I think Orange County is ardently in opposition to the position that he has taken."
