ARMEY HITS HUSTINGS FOR HOFFMAN; HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER ASSISTS IN GOP BID TO BEAT SHERMAN.

Byline: David R. Baker Daily News Staff Writer

Leading a parade of Republican officials into town to help capture what they consider a key seat, U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Dick Armey stumped in Los Angeles on Wednesday for Randy Hoffman, the businessman trying to oust West Valley Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman.

Armey, R-Texas, spoke at a downtown fund-raiser for Hoffman, the GOP challenger for a congressional district that stretches from Sherman Oaks to Thousand Oaks.

Other Republican leaders - including former presidential candidate and Sen. Bob Dole - are scheduled to follow. The party's brass considers the district one of a handful nationwide in which GOP candidates stand the best chance of unseating Democrats.

``We like Randy's spirit,'' Armey said before the $1,000-per-plate lunch at the City Club in the Wells Fargo Center. ``This is a contestable effort, with a great candidate.''

For Hoffman, who beat two challengers in the primary for the chance to face Sherman, the backing of party brass has helped raise funds and rally support.

``It's one thing to say this is one of the top 10 seats in the country to win; it's another to have the majority leader come here,'' he said. ``It underlines the fact that the party is going to devote whatever resources are necessary to win this seat.''

Nor has the race escaped the attention of Democratic leaders. House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., visited the area last week to campaign on Sherman's behalf.

Sherman on Wednesday welcomed Armey's visit, saying the presence of the staunch conservative belied Hoffman's more moderate positions. Hoffman, for example, is pro-abortion rights, while Armey is an abortion foe.

``I can't think of a better way for Mr. Hoffman to show us where he'll stand in the extremely unlikely event he gets to Congress - he'll stand right with Dick Armey,'' Sherman said.

Armey said he had no problem with differences of opinion between himself and Hoffman. ``It's not for me to decide who a person should be on that issue,'' he said. ``I don't believe there is a litmus test.''

Armey also predicted that Sherman and other Democrats up for election this fall could be tainted by the problems engulfing President Clinton after his admission of an improper relationship with a former White House intern. The scandal, he said, will erode support for Democrats - even if Republicans don't hammer on the issue.

``Everyone's talking about the Clinton problem,'' he said. ``Dick Armey doesn't need to talk about it.''

Wednesday's invitation-only luncheon, which raised about $40,000, drew a small crowd of businessmen and civic leaders.

Some were regular party supporters; others were more interested in the candidate. Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who met Hoffman when the candidate was head of a company manufacturing satellite-based positioning systems, attended, as did former lieutenant governor candidate Noel Irwin-Hentschel.

Calabasas resident Jack Bredehorn said he supports Hoffman because he wants a representative who understands the need to cut taxes affecting small businesses and to reform the education system. A father and businessman, Hoffman seemed to him a logical choice.

``I know he understands about education, and being in business, he knows the whole realm of taxes,'' Bredehorn said.