LAT: Republican Tops Border Activist (Minuteman) in O.C. (CA) Election

Republican Tops Border Activist in O.C. Election
By Jean O. Pasco, Times Staff Writer


A Republican state senator sailed to victory Tuesday in a special congressional election in coastal Orange County featuring a maverick, third-party candidate who sought to capitalize on growing fears of illegal immigration.

In a race that drew national attention, Sen. John Campbell (R-Irvine) held a wide lead throughout the evening, ending the night with nearly 45% of the vote. But it was Minuteman Project co-founder and first-time candidate Jim Gilchrist of the American Independent Party who drew the spotlight with his one-issue campaign....

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Democrat Steve Young finished second with 28%, and Gilchrist was third with 25%. Both candidates significantly boosted their totals over the October special election, while Campbell gained just 30 more votes....

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Experts said the five-person race could provide a unique opportunity to gauge the effectiveness of illegal immigration as an issue in Republican areas.

"Illegal immigration is the overwhelming issue in Orange County, and that's why he was able to come out of nowhere, because it was the perfect issue for Gilchrist to run on," said consultant Scott Hart, who supports Campbell....


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-coxseat7dec07,0,7190560.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Maybe someone needs to do a little political
organizing there...

as a wedge issue. The only problem is that immigration is just as divisive for the Republican party. It will backfire on them.

Orange County was really be a bastion of Republican pigheadedness.