MCCAIN ENDORSES ROGAN RE-ELECTION EFFORT FORMER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL SPEAKS AT BEL-AIR FUND-RAISER.

Byline: Jennifer Hamm Staff Writer

Arizona Sen. John McCain endorsed the re-election bid of Rep. James Rogan on Tuesday, saying the Glendale Republican has acted in the best interest of the country.

More than 150 supporters gathered at a Bel-Air home Tuesday night to hear the former presidential candidate and to raise money for Rogan's re-election.

``This is a wonderful candidate, a wonderful and descent person,'' McCain said. ``I think history will judge him not only with kindness but with praise.''

The $500-a-plate dinner was expected to bring in $70,000 for Rogan, who is trying to hold on to the 27th District seat in one of the most closely watched congressional races in the country.

Rogan, who angered Democrats as a House manager of the impeachment of President Clinton, has raised more than $4.5 million in an effort to defeat his challenger, state Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena.

After brief accolades for Rogan, McCain spent most of the evening discussing his unsuccessful campaign for the Republican presidential nomination and underscored his commitment to campaign finance reform.

Although he was seen as a GOP maverick during his campaign this year against Texas Gov. George W. Bush, Republican candidates across the country have tapped him for support. McCain is on a three-day swing through California this week on behalf of Republican candidates.

The McCain trip began with the Rogan fund-raising appearance at the home of Noel Irwin Hentschel, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in 1998, and her husband, Gordon Hentschel.

McCain is slated to appear this morning at a fund-raiser in Burlingame for Rep. Tom Campbell, a GOP congressman from the San Jose area challenging Sen. Dianne Feinstein in November.

Challenger Schiff said it was ironic that McCain would attend a fund- raiser for Rogan because the two Republicans seem to disagree on many issues.

Schiff's campaign issued a statement noting that Rogan twice voted against the McCain-Feingold bill to reform campaign finance rules, and voted against another bipartisan bill to ban ``soft money'' contributions to political parties.

``He basically wants McCain's support but isn't willing to support anything McCain does, and wants the support of McCain supporters but isn't willing to support anything they believe in, like campaign finance reform,'' Schiff said, referring to Rogan's votes against the McCain- Feingold campaign finance reform bill.

McCain and Rogan acknowledged they disagree on specifics of campaign finance reform, but the general idea is embraced by both.

``I don't think Sen. McCain and I are very far apart,'' Rogan said. ``We have a difference of opinion. Republicans can have differences of opinion and still be good Republicans.''

Campaign experts say the Rogan-Schiff contest is all but certain to be one of the top-spending congressional races of the year. Schiff has raised $1.8 million in contributions.

The candidates are now engaged in a battle for prominent supporters to help raise their profiles and campaign funds.

Besides McCain, Rogan has lined up former President George Bush and former Sen. Bob Dole to headline similar fund-raising events.

Schiff has a $1,000-a-person fund-raiser with President Clinton scheduled for the end of June in Washington, D.C.

Also, Sen. Barbara Boxer and Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl, D-Encino, will host a reception for Schiff on Thursday.

And a brunch is planned for next month, hosted by Sherry Lansing, chairwoman of Paramount Pictures' motion picture group, and Academy Award-winning director William Friedkin. Co-hosts include Gov. Gray Davis, director-actor Rob Reiner and entertainer Barbra Streisand.

DreamWorks SKG co-founder David Geffen has also been working to help raise funds for Schiff.

Rogan's advisers say they aren't worried about the high-profile entertainment-industry supporters.

``I could care less about David Geffen and Barbra Streisand,'' said Jason Roe, Rogan's campaign manager. ``We have people that live in the district that support us. We are the campaign of the people, not the Hollywood elitists.''

Rogan, however, alienated some voters in his increasingly Democratic district when he prosecuted President Clinton during the impeachment trials, say some political observers.

But others contend Rogan benefited from the public exposure, even gaining some supporters who appreciated his willingness to take on the nation's top official.

Rogan's camp maintains the district's voters will not elect their representative to Washington, D.C., based solely on impeachment.

``If Adam Schiff thinks he is going to win because of impeachment, he's got another thing coming,'' Roe said. ``This election is not going to be decided on impeachment. This election is going to be decided on issues.''