Dornan Gauges Chances in Other Districts

Declaring that “Bob Dornan is not through,” the maverick Orange County Republican said Saturday that he has hired pollsters to gauge his image and name recognition in several congressional districts outside the one taken from him in 1996 by Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez.

Although he said he would not challenge a fellow Republican, Dornan said he is exploring political opportunities in districts now held by Reps. Edward R. Royce, Christopher Cox, Dana Rohrabacher and Ron Packard.

“My scouts have already reported,” Dornan said in a telephone interview. “In all the surrounding districts, I’m considered a fighter in the Republican Party.”

He said he has no firm plans to move to another district to prepare for a congressional bid, and may prefer hosting a television show. Dornan held the 46th District seat from 1984 to 1996, when he lost to Sanchez in a bitterly contested race marred by allegations of voter fraud. He ran again this year, losing to Sanchez.

“I think Congress is a lesser place with me not there,” Dornan said. “I set a standard of bold, stand-tall speaking. On any number of issues, I don’t see my equal in the House.”

While he wouldn’t run against a sitting Republican, Dornan said: “Anybody around here retires, I’m looking at that, for sure.”