Since Rep. Bob Dornan lost to Loretta Sanchez in 1996, Orange County Republicans have searched for a credible candidate to beat Sanchez.
Local Republicans have over the years fronted a list of misfits, retreads and drop-outs who have amounted to nothing. But under the leadership of Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh, the 47th Congressional District which includs Santa Ana has become competative again fot the GOP (Democrats now outnumber GOP voters by only about 3%).
So 2006 could be a year where the GOP wins or at least make a credible showing. That is if they find a candidate. Enter Rosie Availa, Santa Ana School Board Member. Rosie is a nice lady and principled conservative. But she has little ability to raise money. Tan Nguyen is the other guy in the race. He is best known for running as a DEMOCRAT against Congressman Dana Rohrabacher in 2004. He lost in the Democrat Primary.
Nguyen has all the right answers now. He says the Democrats didn’t have room for a guy as conservative as him. He has already put over $250,000 of his own money into his campaign. And he is spending it. Without the benefit of a consultant or any professional adivse, Nguyen is printing brochures and mailing them district-wide. He says he is walking precincts (see door-knob hanger) with volunteers and paid walkers.
Nguyen has a lot going for him. If you can you set aside his recent Democrat status (which I find hard to do) you might be able to put him in contender status. However, Sanchez is the ‘darling’ of the Democrat Party and she has millions in her campaign coffers. Tan Nguyen is probably not going to win in November, especially not if he continues on the this course of self-guided campaigning. But given the lack of quality candidates for the job, if he sticks around, proves himself as a loyal Republican and keeps involved with the community, he might be able to take the seat in ’08 or beyond.