BUSH WOOS LATINO VOTERS AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT STOP.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

Finding himself locked in an unexpected dogfight, Texas Gov. George W. Bush turned his attention Wednesday to the nation's biggest electoral prize - California - with an appeal to Los Angeles' growing Latino population.

Bush, who is fluent in Spanish but chose to speak English, appeared at a town-hall forum with Latino voters organized by Univision, the Spanish- language television network, held at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester.

``The Latino vote is very important,'' Bush said to reporters after the forum. ``Nationwide, it's important. There are some big electoral states with strong Latino populations - California, Texas.

``But it's not just the Latino population in California. The Asian community is important, the African-American vote. And I'm going to campaign as hard as I can with the same message throughout California: Give me a chance.''

Bush was still reeling from twin defeats dealt him by Arizona Sen. John McCain in Michigan and Arizona on Tuesday that left the once-anointed front-runner scrambling to catch up.

McCain won Michigan's open primary with overwhelming support from Democratic and independent voters while Bush won among hard-core Republicans.

Political analysts said Wednesday's forum was Bush's attempt to turn McCain's strategy against him in California, since a majority of Latinos are Democrats.

``He's looking for cross-over votes,'' said Los Angeles-based consultant Alan Hoffenblum, who favors McCain but is not directly involved in the campaign. ``I can see why the Latino community would be the first place to go because he identifies with them and he's comfortable with them.''

McCain's camp noted that the senator has also done well with Latinos in his home state, receiving 55 percent of their vote in his last election.

``The support of the Latino community is very important to us in California,'' said Peter DeMarco, a spokesman for the McCain campaign in Southern California. ``We will aggressively seek their support between now and not just March 7, but beyond that, too.''

During the taped forum, Bush answered a variety of questions on education, free trade and immigration.

He pointed to his record on education as Texas governor, saying he expanded opportunities for top high school students to attend public college. In response to an audience member's question, he said he does not support amnesty for illegal immigrants as advocated by leaders of the AFL-CIO, which is increasingly organizing Latino workers.

He also emphasized his support for the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying free trade with Mexico helps both countries.

``A strong Mexico, a vibrant Mexico, a healthy Mexico is important to America,'' he said.

Bush's appearance drew a mixed reaction from audience members.

``It was very disappointing,'' said Gloria Curiel, a Santa Monica attorney. ``I was very disappointed with his quick response to the question of whether he'd be in favor of an amnesty (for illegal immigrants), especially when our society is taking note that immigrants have been good for our country.''

Curiel is a registered Democrat, but said prior to the forum she was thinking of voting for Bush because she believes the Clinton administration is too harsh on immigrants. But hearing the governor speak changed her mind and has her leaning toward McCain - at least until she hears for herself what the senator has to say on the topic.

``For him (Bush) to not be willing to support an amnesty - I found that really more than disappointing. I found it un-American,'' she added.

But Loyola student Loy Rackley, 22, of Westlake Village, said the forum reinforced his support for Bush.

``He related well to the Latino voters,'' Rackley said. ``He stuck by his guns on issues regarding education, taxes and border patrols.''

The event was plagued by a major technical glitch that prevented the assembled national and local news media from fully understanding what the governor was saying during the forum.

The media was in a separate tent where video feeds were set up in English and Spanish. Bush was initially expected to speak in Spanish, with English translators, but when he switched to English, his words were not carried to the English-language feed - leaving non-Spanish-speaking reporters puzzled and frustrated.

The press tent was also briefly invaded by the McCain forces. Several McCain supporters who appeared to be in their 20s somehow got into the press tent and began passing out fliers headlined ``Californians Watching, Waiting for Bush Waffles.''

The fliers, which said they were paid for by McCain 2000, criticized the governor for alleged flip-flopping on several issues. The McCain supporters were quickly hustled out by Bush campaign staffers, but not before passing out the fliers to most of the assembled reporters.

The forum will be broadcast on 10 Univision stations throughout California, plus one in Reno, at 11 a.m. Saturday to an estimated audience of 250,000. In Los Angeles, it can be seen on KMEX-TV (Channel 34).

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) George W. Bush is scrambling to regain front-runner status.

(2 -- color) Gov. George W. Bush speaks to reporters after a taped town-hall meeting in Westchester on Wednesday.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer