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Anti-War Activists Protest McCain Fundraiser

Fox 6 San Diego

LA JOLLA, CA -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain was met by protesters Monday outside a campaign fundraising luncheon at a La Jolla hotel before addressing a crowd of military families in Chula Vista, where he pushed for continued support for the war in Iraq.

It was the Arizona senator's first trip to California since becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

About two dozen demonstrators picketed outside McCain's $1,000-a-plate fundraising luncheon at the La Jolla Marriott. Most were opposed to the war, carrying signs that read "No to 100 Years of War," "No More Blood for Oil," and "Troops Home Vote Dem."

At a Chula Vista VFW post, McCain addressed a crowd of military families during a town hall-style event.

He stressed the importance of keeping troops in Iraq, challenging the position of Democratic presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

"If we set a date for withdrawal -- the way that Senator Clinton and Senator Obama want to do it -- all of that will be lost and there will be chaos and genocide in the region and we will be back," McCain said.

McCain's three-day trip to Southern California is set to include additional fundraisers in Palm Desert, Newport Beach and Bel-Air, a roundtable for Latino small business owners in Santa Ana Tuesday and a speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council on Wednesday.

The trip follows McCain's seven-day congressional fact-finding trip to the Middle East and Europe.