FLASHREPORT

A few weeks back, Seneca at OC Blog had an interesting post about Orange County political figures spotted at a fundraiser for Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Guiliani that brought in over $300,000.  Seneca said "I was pleased to see notable members of Orange County's political and community leaders present including Paul Folino, Rich Wagner, Dale Dykema, Bill Simon, Dick Marconi, Lucy Dunn, Diane Harkey, Mario Rodriguez, Tony Rackacus, Jim Lacy, Jim Palmer and Tracy Price (the list could go on). All things said, the event went off extremely successfully, leaving me anxious to get on the invite list for the next OC fundraiser for the frontrunner."  (Happy to be on the list!)

But not to be outdone, Mitt Romney's campaign has a new fundraiser planned in the Orange County for March 16, and there are some equally interesting names from the O.C. on the host committee for that event, including former state Republican Party Chair Mike Schroeder and wife Susan, Jim Righeimer, prominent O.C. pollster Adam Probolsky, the Lincoln Club's Buck Johns, devout Mormons Bob and LaDorna Eichenberg, Newport Beach political guru Dave Ellis, Congressman John Campbell, and O.C. Party Chair Scott Baugh.  

And there is one apparent cross-over.  Dana Point Councilmember Diane Harkey is listed on the Romney fundraiser as a member of the "Honorary Host Committee."  But she was also a paying invitee to the Guiliani fundraiser in San Juan Capistrano earlier in the month as Seneca writes, and it looks like she is about the only significant "dual" supporter.  Some donors like to think they can cover their bets and support everybody, but that is usually a pretty naive view, as Presidential politics is not exactly like managing a hedge fund.  Candidates for President and their closest advisors actually are able to take notice of who their friends really are, and the savy donors in Orange County, with the exception of Harkey, seem to be firmly deciding who they will be working for in the February, 2008 primary.  Both Romney and Guiliani have, for the most part, a great line-up of supporters in Orange county.  Get ready for a donny-brook!