THIS TIME, GOP COVETS CALIFORNIA.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

As the Republican National Convention gets under way today, advisers to presumed nominee Bob Dole said Sunday that California will not be forgotten as it was four years ago.

``We will not give Bill Clinton the same free ride he had in 1992 (against George Bush),'' said Ken Khachigian, who is heading up the Dole campaign effort in California.

``By not campaigning in California, we let Bill Clinton focus on other states such as Ohio and Virginia. If we can make it close in California and force him to focus here, we have a better chance everywhere else.''

Khachigian said he has received promises of substantial funding for the effort. While he would not disclose the exact amount, he believes he needs to spend $15 million to $16 million to be competitive.

Despite independent polls showing Dole trailing Clinton by more than 20 percent, Khachigian said he believes that will begin to change after the convention.

``We finally will have some money to spend and we have a strong message we can deliver,'' Khachigian said. ``The addition of Jack Kemp as vice president gives us another voice to spread our message to address the concerns that people have.''

Kemp provides new energy to Republican activists, even in California, where he angered many by opposing Proposition 187, Khachigian said.

``He said he was concerned with the message that was being sent,'' Khachigian said. ``Jack Kemp has a long record of being concerned about sending messages that kept women and minorities out of the Republican Party.''

Also, while Kemp has yet to take a position on the California Civil Rights Initiative, Khachigian said he didn't believe that would matter since Dole has been an early supporter of the proposition to eliminate government affirmative action programs.

The staging of the convention this week also frees Dole from financial worries, since he will now receive $74 million in federal campaign funds. Because of the tough primaries he faced, Dole depleted his stockpile two months ago. Campaign ads and appearances have been paid for, in a limited fashion, by the Republican National Committee.

``We're in a sprint between now and Nov. 5,'' Khachigian said. ``The marathon part of the campaign is over, and now we go head to head.''

Khachigian, who worked on both of Ronald Reagan's presidential campaigns and those of former Gov. George Deukmejian, said he is concerned about whether the Dole-Kemp ticket will get the boost that would normally come after a convention.

The Clinton campaign had more than $15 million available for the final month leading up to the conventions, and most of that is being spent on television commercials this week to blunt the Republicans.

``They're doing the smart thing, but it means we won't get the bump we normally would,'' Khachigian said.

It is particularly important for Dole's California campaign to begin gaining ground on Clinton, he said.

``If, on Sept. 15, I get a poll that shows we're 30 points down and no hope of moving, then I would say let's put the money elsewhere,'' Khachigian said. ``But if we're 16 points down, I would fight tooth and claws to keep the campaign going here. I know the California voters, and that would make it close.''

More and more voters delay making their decision until the final 96 hours of a campaign, he said.

``It used to be 15 percent or so waited; now it's 25 percent,'' Khachigian said. ``That's the most critical part of any campaign. That's when you have to make decisions, and you can't make a mistake.''

Khachigian also said he believed the convention, which has been marked by controversy over abortion rights and the removal of Gov. Pete Wilson as a speaker - will be peaceful and positive for Dole.

``The decision to not have (Wilson) speak was to avoid any further controversy,'' Khachigian said. ``There already has been enough disruptions.''