Mitt Romney

After months of keeping his views to himself, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher announced he would endorse GOP hopeful Mitt Romney for president, citing the former Massachusetts governor as the candidate he trusts to fix the nation’s “illegal immigration crisis.” “Romney is going to be someone who tries to get control of the illegal immigration across our borders,” he said, adding, “We’re coming into a lot of economic troubles Romney has some private sector experience, especially in building economies and corporate jobs.

Republican presidential candidate Gov. Rick Perry will visit Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar for a GOP rally Thursday morning before hustling off to a private fundraiser. The Texas governor and presumed GOP front-runner is scheduled to be at Roger's Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. with more than 1,000 Republican volunteers. To guarantee a parking spot, each vehicle must have at least three passengers, according to the Republican Party of Orange County's website.

With Mitt Romney stepping aside in an implicit endorsement of John McCain this morning, local supporters were quick to follow suit, acknowledging the common threat of a Democratic White House while heeding the former governor’s call for party unity in the 2008 elections. “It was the right time, and he (dropped out) in an elegant and graceful manner that will help unite Republicans,” Orange County Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh said. “I believe that Mitt Romney was the best man for the job, but nevertheless, each of our Republican candidates are better than what the Democrats have to offer, which is higher taxes and retreat with respect to the war in Iraq.

When Mitt Romney dropped out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination it essentially cleared the way for John McCain to win. Some have speculated Mike Huckabee stayed in to bolster his chances of getting a shot on the ticket with McCain. Newt Gingrich has said he would accept the vice-presidential nomination if McCain offers it. Other suggestions include Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who extended a crucial endorsement of McCain before the Sunshine State’s primary, and even Romney.

COSTA MESA — Arlene Cole settled into a chair at Whittier Law School at 5 a.m. today and prepared to spend most of the next 18 hours there. The Costa Mesa resident was among those signing in voters on Super Tuesday after she and her fellow volunteers devoted Monday to setting up voting booths in a spare room at the school on Harbor Boulevard. She had never volunteered all day for an election before, and she hoped that her stamina would hold up. “You can say it’s exciting, but after the excitement ends, you’re numb,” Cole said.

A few notable local Republicans have shipped out to Minnesota to attend the Republican National Convention this week to see presumptive vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin speak and participate in a variety of other functions. Even though California still doesn’t have a budget, Assemblyman Van Tran went to the Twin Cities as a delegate, while fellow state politicians Sen. Tom Harman and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore stayed home. Tran said that even though the budget is a pressing concern, he is not on the budgetary committee and therefore not intimately involved in drafting it; when one is drafted, he will return to vote.

With presidential hopeful Mitt Romney stepping aside in an implicit endorsement of John McCain Thursday morning, local supporters were quick to follow the former Massachusetts governor’s call for unity. “It was the right time, and he [dropped out] in an elegant and graceful manner that will help unite Republicans,” Orange County Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh said. “I believe that Mitt Romney was the best man for the job, but, nevertheless, each of our Republican candidates are better than what the Democrats have to offer, which is higher taxes and retreat with respect to the war in Iraq.

People booked into the Costa Mesa and Orange County jails can expect to have their immigration status checked, and if they're found to be in the U.S. illegally, a fine from the county might be added to their troubles. Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach on Tuesday proposed charging a fine between $250 and $400 to illegal immigrants in the Costa Mesa and county jails as a way to offset some uncompensated emergency room care at local hospitals. Moorlach said he threw the idea out there as an alternative to what the board was considering: an increase in traffic ticket fees for moving violations.

As a member of the minority party, Rep. John Campbell, a Republican from Newport Beach, gets to again throw his political clout behind probablydoomed efforts — this time in Washington, D.C., instead of Sacramento. The latest is a bill by fellow California GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter that would pardon two Border Patrol agents convicted of shooting a drug smuggler who entered the U.S. illegally. Campbell is one of 82 cosigners on the bill. A congressional pardon has never been done before, and in the Constitution "it's ambiguous as to whether you can or not," Campbell said Tuesday.

For Orange County political players, Tuesday meant another day, another photo op and another 2008 presidential candidate looking for a financial boost. This time it was Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain, who appeared at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. McCain is the latest candidate to pass through with his hands out. Republican hopefuls Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Rudy Giuliani held Orange County events in March. On the Democratic side, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton was in Laguna Beach in March, and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama raised money at a breakfast Monday in Newport Coast.

Republican presidential candidate Gov. Rick Perry will visit Roger's Gardens in Corona del Mar for a GOP rally Thursday morning before hustling off to a private fundraiser. The Texas governor and presumed GOP front-runner is scheduled to be at Roger's Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. with more than 1,000 Republican volunteers. To guarantee a parking spot, each vehicle must have at least three passengers, according to the Republican Party of Orange County's website.

A few notable local Republicans have shipped out to Minnesota to attend the Republican National Convention this week to see presumptive vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin speak and participate in a variety of other functions. Even though California still doesn’t have a budget, Assemblyman Van Tran went to the Twin Cities as a delegate, while fellow state politicians Sen. Tom Harman and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore stayed home. Tran said that even though the budget is a pressing concern, he is not on the budgetary committee and therefore not intimately involved in drafting it; when one is drafted, he will return to vote.

NEWPORT BEACH — Republican presidential hopeful John McCain raised about $800,000 at a luncheon Tuesday afternoon at the Island Hotel, Assemblyman Van Tran said. The Arizona senator, who is expected to be the Republican candidate this fall, spoke to a group of high-ranking Orange County Republicans at the hotel across the street from Fashion Island. The event was closed to the media. “I have seen supporters from Mitt Romney, [Mike] Huckabee, [Fred] Thompson, all in attendance, maxing out for the senator,” said Tran, one of the area’s biggest McCain boosters.

NEWPORT BEACH — Republican presidential hopeful John McCain raised about $800,000 at a luncheon Tuesday afternoon at the Island Hotel, Assemblyman Van Tran said. The Arizona senator, who is expected to be the Republican candidate this fall, spoke to a group of high-ranking Orange County Republicans at the hotel across the street from Fashion Island. The event was closed to the media. “I have seen supporters from Mitt Romney, [Mike] Huckabee, [Fred] Thompson, all in attendance, maxing out for the senator,” said Tran, one of the area’s biggest McCain boosters.

The last two weeks were politically a little rough for me. Super Tuesday was almost two weeks ago, and I am still feeling the pain. I had been working to get former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney elected for more than two years, and trust me: When you lose, it leaves a mark. Looking back now, it is easy to see how it all played out. The conservative vote was split between Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani had lost in Florida the week before, so he dropped out of the race.

When Mitt Romney dropped out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination it essentially cleared the way for John McCain to win. Some have speculated Mike Huckabee stayed in to bolster his chances of getting a shot on the ticket with McCain. Newt Gingrich has said he would accept the vice-presidential nomination if McCain offers it. Other suggestions include Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who extended a crucial endorsement of McCain before the Sunshine State’s primary, and even Romney.

You know a political party is in trouble when the candidate anointed by the party’s long-established power structure loses a presidential primary to a maverick in the family. And, worse, loses to that infernal black sheep in a region known to be the power source of the party’s national lighthouse. In this instance, it’s the Republican Party that’s listing. It’s sailing for ice. And there are lifeboats in the water. I’m in one of them. Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain is a maverick.

With presidential hopeful Mitt Romney stepping aside in an implicit endorsement of John McCain Thursday morning, local supporters were quick to follow the former Massachusetts governor’s call for unity. “It was the right time, and he [dropped out] in an elegant and graceful manner that will help unite Republicans,” Orange County Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh said. “I believe that Mitt Romney was the best man for the job, but, nevertheless, each of our Republican candidates are better than what the Democrats have to offer, which is higher taxes and retreat with respect to the war in Iraq.

With Mitt Romney stepping aside in an implicit endorsement of John McCain this morning, local supporters were quick to follow suit, acknowledging the common threat of a Democratic White House while heeding the former governor’s call for party unity in the 2008 elections. “It was the right time, and he (dropped out) in an elegant and graceful manner that will help unite Republicans,” Orange County Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh said. “I believe that Mitt Romney was the best man for the job, but nevertheless, each of our Republican candidates are better than what the Democrats have to offer, which is higher taxes and retreat with respect to the war in Iraq.

COSTA MESA — Arlene Cole settled into a chair at Whittier Law School at 5 a.m. today and prepared to spend most of the next 18 hours there. The Costa Mesa resident was among those signing in voters on Super Tuesday after she and her fellow volunteers devoted Monday to setting up voting booths in a spare room at the school on Harbor Boulevard. She had never volunteered all day for an election before, and she hoped that her stamina would hold up. “You can say it’s exciting, but after the excitement ends, you’re numb,” Cole said.