The Political Landscape: McCain wins mock vote
Mock presidential primary conducted locally surveyed candidates’ shots at commander in chief.

By Chris Caesar, Michael Miller and Brianna Bailey

If John McCain becomes president next year, he’ll have a solid fan base among Costa Mesa’s movers and shakers.

That was the conclusion Friday at the South Coast Metro Alliance’s luncheon at the Westin South Coast Plaza, where public affairs consultant Paul Freeman conducted a mock presidential primary. Freeman, a former Laguna Beach mayor, circulated Republican, Democratic and general election ballots among more than 100 attendees – and when officials tallied the results, McCain had wiped out his Republican challengers and beaten Democratic Hillary Clinton by three votes.

The members of the South Coast Metro Alliance – a group of political and business leaders from Costa Mesa and south Santa Ana – elected Barack Obama on the Democratic ticket, although on a general ballot, with only one vote permitted, Clinton led all Democrats in votes. Among those voting were Costa Mesa City Council members and officials from South Coast Plaza, the SoBeCa District and several upscale hotels.

Freeman said he also expected McCain and Clinton to score their parties’ nominations, although he added that Obama could squeak out a tight victory. He declined, though, to make a prediction until weeks before the election.