McCain discusses issues at $25,000 dinner

Arizona Sen. John McCain raked in $1 million for his presidential campaign Tuesday after holding an expensive and exclusive private fundraiser at a Newport Beach couple’s home, according to one of his biggest local boosters, Assemblyman Van Tran.

The ticket for admission to the dinner in the gated community home of George and Julia Argyros was $25,000. This wasn’t the typical rubber-chicken dinner.

Guests arrived in formal attire and dined on filet mignon.

About 60 community leaders and notable Republican Party activists were at the event, including former California Secretary of State Bill Jones and Thomas McKernan, the chief executive of the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Reporters were not allowed to attend the event.

“All the guests had good quality time with Sen. McCain,” Tran said. “The evening was successful politically as well as financially.”

McCain’s speech revolved around familiar themes from his stump speech, and he vowed to work hard to compete in the traditionally blue state of California.

“The senator spoke about competing in California and his plans to spend time here to win in November,” Tran said. “That is really important to the community here.”

McCain also reiterated the necessity of finding alternative fuel sources to boost the economy.

“He is a strong supporter of finding other means of energy so we are not so dependent on petroleum,” Tran said.

Regarding recent polls that show Sen. Barack Obama has a 15% lead, McCain said he knows he is fighting a hard campaign, but he likes to be the underdog, Tran said.

“The senator mentioned the war in Iraq and said that he would not make the same mistake as we did in Vietnam by pulling out,” Tran said.

“He said that the strategy is working and that we will win Iraq.”

McCain also hit Obama again on backing out of his pledge to accept public financing for the general election.

McCain will accept public financing, capping the amount he can spend at about $84 million, while Obama can raise as much as he wants.