An intriguing McCain omission in California

John McCain's campaign scheduled six "election watch" parties throughout California tonight, including one at the always-fun Cat & Fiddle on Sunset Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Lacking from the list -- any get-together in Orange County, the Golden State's traditional GOP stronghold. Perhaps it was an organizational oversight. Or perhaps there are just too many of those "very conservative" Republicans in the Big Orange, voters that exit polls keep showing don't care much for McCain.

We've asked the McCain camp for an explanation (via telephone and e-mail), but no comment so far.

Testifying to the importance of the fight for California -- not only in terms of delegates, but perception -- McCain made a quick stop earlier today in San Diego (another of the cities where he has an election watch party). Joining him was the new recruit to his cause, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Times' Maeve Reston reports that two were so caught up in a conversation backstage that they missed several cues from San Diego’s Mayor Jerry Sanders to come on out and talk to the roughly 150 people at an airport rally. Eventually they did. But wouldn't we love to know what they were chatting about.

-- Don Frederick