Lungren believes California can be competitive for McCain

U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River)BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - The Republican Party is energized, and that could translate into a more competitive situation in California, U.S Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) said on Thursday.

Lungren, a member of the California delegation, said that Wednesday's events at the Republican National Convention showed a Republican Party united and jazzed for November.

That was especially true with the reaction to the speech of vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, he said.

"The interesting thing is that not only did she hit all the points, she was capable of using humor when talking about her opponent," he said.

Because of her ability to appeal to so many groups, including conservatives, moderates and women, he said, he believes Palin could be the first vice presidential candidate to make a difference in the race since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1960.

What was more encouraging, Lungren said, was the reaction U.S. Sen. John McCain got when he made a cameo appearance after Palin's speech, ahead of his own nomination speech Thursday.

"That was a really spontaneous burst of energy and applause," he said. "Our base is energized because of the ticket and what McCain has told the base about what he'll do and a record of doing it."

That should help in California, where there are still Democrats who remember voting for Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, Lungren said.

He noted that the most recent poll showed McCain closing the gap in that state on Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

"That was happening before the vice presidential nominee was announced," he said. "I think it's all looking up right now."

McCain's campaign can help down-ballot Republicans as well, especially if the energy from a presidential campaign's volunteers can funnel into the local volunteers and campaign, he said.

"If we do better at the top, we do better in California," he said. Getting Democrats to both spend money and campaign time in the state is the goal, he added.

Some experts have said Lungren's 3rd Congressional District race could be a competitive seat, though registration favors his party and he won re-election easily in 2006 against the same Democratic opponent as this year, doctor Bill Durston.

Either way, Lungren said, he's ready.

"I'm privileged to have the advantage of party registration better than I ever did in Southern California," said Lungren, who was a representative there in the 1980s. "I always prepare as if the race is going to be very competitive."