GOP Factions Unite to Get Out the Vote

Two Orange County Republican organizations, from opposite wings of the party, have joined for an unprecedented voter-registration drive aimed at boosting GOP turnout in the November election.

The New Majority, a group of social moderates formed this year, will donate $100,000 to the drive, matched by $100,000 from conservatives in the 38-year-old Lincoln Club of Orange County. The Irvine Co. will contribute $50,000.

The spending equals county Republican registration efforts for the 1992 and 1996 elections combined and marks the first time major registration activities will take place outside the control of the local party organization.

The goal is to register 25,000 Republicans in Orange County by the Oct. 9 registration deadline, New Majority consultant Chris St. Hilaire said. The group will target new homeowners and hopes to boost turnout by luring at least 75% of GOP voters to the polls. In 1996, 68% of registered Republicans voted.

California is a key battleground between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the two major parties’ presumptive nominees. In addition, a new Legislature will determine state voting districts for the next 10 years.

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Orange County Republicans have enjoyed a sizable voter majority since 1984, when President Ronald Reagan was reelected with a 425,000-vote margin in the county. But GOP margins have shrunk since then, to Bob Dole’s 119,200-vote margin in 1996.

In September 1999, Republican voters dipped below 50% of the county’s total registrations. The largest surge in new voters has come from those declining to affiliate with a political party.

“It is critical that Orange County Republicans are registered and turn out to vote if we expect statewide victory this November,” said Thomas E. Tucker, president of the New Majority’s political action committee.

Lincoln Club President Michael Capaldi predicted the drive will energize Republican volunteers. “This will give them the support they need to win California for good candidates,” he said.

The Democratic Foundation of Orange County, the fund-raising group for the party, has no separate voter-registration drive planned but will contribute to Democratic activities in central county, where most party members live, foundation executive director Sandra Ramos said.