Clinton Visits GOP Stronghold : Politics: Democrat aims message at members of both major parties at fund-raiser in Orange County.

Having previously wooed Orange County Republican business leaders, Democratic presidential candidate Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas returned to the heart of GOP fund-raising territory Tuesday in an effort to solidify his support among members of both parties.

During a standing-room-only luncheon in Santa Ana, which organizers said raised $40,000 to $50,000 for his campaign, Clinton outlined his economic proposals, including a 10% tax cut for the middle class that would be paid for by raising taxes on annual incomes above $200,000.

“Unless we change our attitudes of fundamental fairness and are determined to overcome division, we are going to be in trouble,” said Clinton, whose recent fund-raising successes and surge in the polls in New Hampshire have established him as the early front-runner for the Democratic nomination. New Hampshire holds the nation’s first primary Feb. 18.

“This is not an election in traditional terms,” Clinton said as he began his pitch to win possible crossover voters from the Republican ranks. “If you are sick and tired of being on the defensive and you think this country can win again and you want to be part of it, then, without regard to where you were last time, I am your candidate and I need your support.”

Luncheon organizers estimated that at least one-fourth of the 100 people at the event were Republicans.

Among those sitting at the head table was Western Digital Chairman Roger W. Johnson, who, along with developer Kathryn G. Thompson, co-sponsored a breakfast last month to introduce Clinton to 60 Orange County Republicans. The event raised the anger of local Republican leaders and the hopes among the usually outnumbered Orange County Democrats that the centrist Clinton could whip up local support.

After that campaign stop, one of Clinton’s Democratic rivals, Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, criticized the governor for meeting with “Republican fat cats.”

But during a news conference after Tuesday’s luncheon, Clinton said he felt comfortable campaigning in conservative Orange County and that he was “not embarrassed to have business people” supporting his candidacy.

“What does ‘fat cat’ mean?” Clinton asked. “I don’t want to get into a personal discussion with Sen. Harkin about that, but I told (the business leaders) I was going to raise their taxes. He hasn’t told them that.”

Orange County Democratic Party Chairman Howard Adler, one of the luncheon’s co-sponsors, said Clinton already has helped the party locally because of the interest his candidacy is generating among some Republicans.