FULLERTON (CNS) - Former Vice President Joe Biden will come to Orange County today to help energize the campaigns of six Orange County congressional hopefuls.
Mike Levin, who is running against Republican Diane Harkey to succeed Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, said he met Biden “many years ago, very briefly,” so he is “excited he's coming back to Orange County.”
Levin believes Biden's rally will “continue to add to the unprecedented level of excitement that we're seeing in Orange County.” He said Democrats have shown “tons of momentum as we enter into Nov. 6,” election day.
As for talk of Biden running for president, Levin would only say, “I'm only focused, and I mean this sincerely, on 2018. That discussion will happen in due course, but right now we have 34 days to take back the House.”
Biden will join California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman and congressional candidates TJ Cox, Gil Cisneros, Katie Porter, Harley Rouda and Levin at the rally, which will be held at 4 p.m. in the Titan Student Union on the Cal State Fullerton campus.
Levin said he has seen a rise in enthusiasm among younger voters, who tend to skip mid-term elections.
“I haven't seen anything like it since the 2008 election when President Obama was running, and I'm really thrilled to see that type of momentum,” Levin said.
“For a lot of people the only president they ever knew was President Obama and, perhaps, they took things for granted,” Levin said. “I think they no longer take them for granted.”
Orange County Republican Chairman Fred Whitaker doubted Biden's rally will have much of an impact on the election.
“I think he'll get about as much attention as Obama, a few hundred people,” said Whitaker of the former president's recent stop in Orange County for a rally.
Whitaker took a dig at Biden's fundraising for U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday.
“I think it's very interesting that Feinstein had creepy Uncle Joe fundraising for her with all the self-righteous indignation at (Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett) Kavanaugh's hearing from Democrats,” Whitaker said.
Biden Wednesday spoke at a $2,700 per person luncheon fundraiser on L.A.'s Westside to benefit Sen. Dianne Feinstein's re-election campaign.
Feinstein was not at the fundraiser because the Senate remains in session. It was hosted by billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad and his wife Edythe. The ticket price coincides with the maximum individual contribution to a U.S. Senate campaign.
Biden served in the Senate with Feinstein from 1992-2009 when he became vice president.
Biden endorsed Feinstein's bid for a fifth full term on March 29, calling her tenacious and accomplished and praising her for “her hard work, preparation and effective advocacy for California and the progressive values we share.”
Feinstein, 85, is facing 51-year-old state Sen. Kevin de Leon, a fellow Democrat, in the November general election.
Biden was also scheduled to speak Wednesday at a $5,000 per person Beverly Hills fundraiser benefitting his political action committee American Possibilities hosted by entertainment executive Jeffrey Katzenberg.
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