MANTECA - California Republican Party chairman Ron Nehring called the Central Valley "ground zero" in the party's efforts to improve its lot in the left-leaning state.

Speaking at a South San Joaquin Republicans meeting, Nehring said that the GOP could do well on the national and local level if party members worked for it.

"We know we are right on the issues, but being right on the issues is not enough," Nehring said to the 70 or so who attended the meeting. Effort and widespread support by the party activists is what's more critical, he said.

That's what makes the party volunteer who makes a call or knocks on a door more important than candidates in some ways, he said. "That's where the magic happens," he said.

"Don't let this be the last Republican thing you do in this election cycle," Nehring said to those who attended the meeting.

He told party members that after attending last week's Republican National Convention, he believes the ticket of John McCain and Sarah Palin can put California in play for the GOP.

That in turn helps local candidates running for everything from Congress to water boards, he said.

"Our level of commitment to support local Republicans for local office has never been higher," he said. "That's how we build our farm team for the future."